The government of India has added 141 more flights to West Asian countries for the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission, its massive repatriation programme for citizens stranded overseas because of Covid-19-related travel restrictions.
The second phase was to end on May 22. However, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the ongoing phase will last till June 13 and that India is looking at making Frankfurt a hub for the mission.
With these new flights, more than half of them to the United Arab Emirates, the total number of flights in the second phase of the programme have gone up to more than 400, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity.
The flights were added due to increased demand from citizens stranded in West Asian countries and the availability of adequate quarantine facilities in states for the returning Indians, the people said. As with all the flights operated so far under Vande Bharat Mission, priority will be given in the second phase to Indian nationals with compelling reasons for returning to the country, they added.
The additional flights are from the UAE (81 flights), Oman and Saudi Arabia (15 flights each), Kuwait (14 flights), Qatar (11 flights) and Bahrain (five flights).
A majority of the flights are bound for Kerala (84 flights), while the other destinations are Delhi (10 flights), Tamil Nadu (nine flights), Telangana (six flights) Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir (five flights each), Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (four flights each), Punjab (three flights), Odisha and West Bengal (two flights each), Chandigarh, Karnataka and Goa (one flight each).
The other 260-odd flights being operated during the second phase of Vande Bharat Mission are from Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tajikistan, the UK, Ukraine and the US.
The second phase of the repatriation programme began on May 16 and will continue till June 13, with all the flights being operated by state-run Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express. Private airlines are likely to be included in the third phase.
As of Thursday, a total of 23,475 Indians have been repatriated under Vande Bharat Mission. The second phase had included new destinations such as Istanbul, Ho Chi Minh City and Lagos, and had increased flights to the US and Europe.
More than 259,000 Indians in 98 countries across the world have registered to return under Vande Bharat Mission. Most of them are workers (28%), students (25%), professionals (14.5%), and short-term visa holders such as tourists (7.6%). Fishermen, deportees and Indian nationals who benefited from visa amnesties have also registered.
Comments
As he is journalist, he might have some sense.
We Muslims have the guidance from our prophet (Peace be upon him) in all aspects of our life.
Kuffar of Makkah, Taif have hurted him, troubled, though suffering lots of troubles he has set example of not retaliating them. He has slowly convinced what is true message, what is truth in it.
As he is journalist, it is not difficult to convince him the message of Islam. Usually most of the journalists are brave and they remain strong with truth. He is also from Kodagu. Try to meet him and debate with him on Islam. If Allah bestows him Hidayat, he might understand true message of Islam and accept it. We have example of Omer Bin Khattab - may Allah pleased with him.
"Madiddunno maaraaya" gaade maathu tilidirabeku
still 80% majority dogs in forest think that 17% lion will kill them one day..he is scared now!!!LOL
dont hurt any religion, all are good but people who become manager of god are very vrey bad.
if you want to do money, do in good way not by spilling venom about other religion. even if road cleaning also, that you will earn respect in front of GOD.
Assure God faith peace loving people will never do such threats. This is pre-plan and this fellow was tapped in the net. Now facing life threat by his in house people. This is their HQ conspiracy to destabilize the las and order and innocent publics normal life. After their god fther recent city visit their groups noted leaders are now in full pledge with their criminal mind set. All peace loving Kannadiga including Mr.Thammaiah and his family has to be carefull.
Such criminl incidents will appear more and more till 2019 election.
If you are a true follower, Nobody can hurt religious sentiments. Unwanted issue. He should be released. and he need protection also
He should be punished properly. He hurt religious sentiments and some media supported to that. They hid real facts.
Fake. Media worked for him. Now he cooked up new story
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