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
It only shows that PROPHET MUHAMMED pbuh, the final messenger to the whole of MANKIND Spoke the TRUTH...
He said : In the end time LIES will be accepted as truth and TRUTH will be accepted as LIES. People are IGNORANT of the CREATOR that's why the EVILs find easy to trap the people With LIES and DECEPTION. ... Most of the people who doesnt use their intellect are falling to the LIES of the arrogant leaders.. and believing it as TRUTH... infact if we research what ZN says is all TRUTH and FACT from not only from Muslim scripture but also other religious scriptures.
But its a temporary enjoyment... for the falsehood... if not repented to God ... They will surely see that ALLAH's plan was the best. Muslims should be patience on their arrogance and fight lawfully.
But they plan, and Allah too plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
Who is the creator of this Univers and
the creator of you & me.
When people are busy in exchanging their old currencies, the Govt. is banning Dr.Zakir Naik's NGO and slowly taking over his Schools.
BJP needs place to hide their black money. So they are byforce taking over zakir's house to hide their money.
BJP needs place to hide their black money. So they are by force taking over zakir's house to hide their money.
shame on NIA who is acting on centre for their shameless ideology ...to curb a peace lover and a peace preacher ..... does it mean that every Muslim become TERRORIST instead of Peace lover like Dr.Zakir Naik ?
i think its time to become that soon . as INDIA will see bloodiest Civil War as RSS wishes to hold onto its 2025 Brahmin Rashtra agenda to come true (which is dream only) . but if ARMY is sasffronised only
Movement like Popular front, SPDI , komu souharda vedike .DYFI,SFI,CFI, Dalit Panthers, Naxal . pragathipara vedike will always there to defend the Nation from such foolish rulers ....
Jai Hind
Asaram Bapu and Zakir Naik both are same
Do you know how????
Their followers are telling that they are innocent and blaming government ...Ha ha ha
Dr. Zakir Naik is a student of Comparative religions. He preaches oneness of God, peace and harmony quoting verses from Quran, Bible and Vedas. Anti Islamic elements cannot equate him logically, and they cannot tolerate his popularity.
Targeting innocent Muslims or peaceful Muslim organizations is not at all a good step. Fascists with their biased policies will only harm the peace in the nation.
India being a plural society, Ruling parties or any other parties why dont you support the UNITY IN DIVERSITY towards the benefit of our beloved nation.
Good move by government...
I think this may be the one of reason for Demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupees, Saffron Government attacking A muslim daayi and his organization under the darkness of 500 and 1000 currency, Actually Muslim does not benefit much from Dr. Zakir as he is not a fiqh scholar, our non muslim brothers missed the opportunity to understand the truth through him, But nothing to worry, If Allah wish to guide one, No one can misguide him,
you can ban legend and great leader like DR.ZAKIR NAIK but you cannot stop or prevent spreading ISLAM all over the world. if you hold one DR.ZAKIR NAIK thousands of other DR. ZAKIR NAIK will come up with more powerful SPEECHES and awareness.
so stop doing unwanted activities and actions..
Dr Zakir should have come to India, since he is away from India authority has more chances of squeezing his organisations. if he is guilty court will punish him. it should not be the situation where he gave stick and ate beatings. Only Allah knows the truth and Allah will guide the best..
I DONT think he can do unwanted activities,
any way
Truth will prevail and evil will perish soon
Political Power is the Master key to open the doors of Justice. hope the Indian Muslim Community Stand together under one political Platform . then only can defeat the Fascist ideology. in india muslim's issue is not just the religious one, its full of Politics which Muslims never realized. let the community stand on their own. now the question is where are those champions of Secularism ..???
This is the lab test of communal anti India rss group. Now by false case they will start to ban other Islamic organization. They are planners are full training under Jews group.
Whole IndIan citizens aware of their intention devide and rule for the sake of so called upper case.
But God will by the supper of peace loving Indins it will not happen.
Now the young cm padnavi of rss more active with anti India policy.Hope hard woring Mumbaikar will stand with peacefull life.
Jai Hind!h3
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