Dubai, May 6: The Indian nationals cleared by the UAE health authorities and found to be asymptomatic will only be allowed to fly back home in one of India's biggest ever repatriation exercises, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has said ahead of the first set of flights on Thursday.
On Monday, the Indian government announced plans to begin a phased repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad from May 7. Air India will operate 64 flights from May 7 to May 13 to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals stranded abroad amid the COVID-19-induced lockdown, India's Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.
The first two special flights that will operate from Thursday to evacuate Indians stranded in the UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic will begin with applicants from Kerala, who formed the majority of the expatriates who have registered to be repatriated from here, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor has said.
"All departing passengers will have to undergo medical screening and IGM/IGG test at the departure airport and only those cleared by the UAE health authorities and found to be asymptomatic will be allowed to board the plane,” the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said on Tuesday.
According to the embassy, all passengers will be required to sign an undertaking to undergo compulsory quarantine at the destination of arrival and bear the cost of the same.
“Each passenger, at the time of boarding would be handed over a safety kit containing 2 three-layered face masks, 2 pairs of gloves and pouches/small bottles of hand sanitizers. While on board the flight, the health protocol of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India will be strictly followed,” said the embassy.
The passenger lists for the two flights on May 7 have been finalised by the Embassy / Consulate and sent to Air India Express for issue of tickets.
The Embassy / Consulate will continue conveying the details of further special flights as and when they are announced by the Government of India, over the next few days.
Less than 2,000 Indians wishing to return home from the UAE will be flown to six Indian states in the first week of India’s biggest ever repatriation exercise named Vande Bharat Mission—sans social distancing and COVID-19 tests, the Gulf News reported.
Only those cleared by the UAE health authorities and found to be asymptomatic will be allowed to board the plane.
The short-listed applicants, who were contacted by the Indian missions on Tuesday to purchase tickets for the first two flights to Kerala on Thursday, told the Gulf News that the tickets are priced around Dh 725 to Dh 750 (over Rs 15,000).
Sharjah resident Rasheed Thayyil said his 70-year-old mother Nepheeza Thottungal, who came on a visit to the UAE in February, received an email from the Indian Consulate in Dubai which quoted an airfare of around Dh725 (approx Rs 15,000), the report said.
Another applicant from Abu Dhabi Ambily Babu said she purchased a ticket at Dh 750 from Air India Express for her Abu Dhabi-Kochi flight scheduled to fly on Thursday evening, it said.
Air India Express which is set to operate the first two flights to Kerala on Thursday will operate its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with a seating capacity of 186 economy class seats, the report added.
With nine seats reserved for isolation, only 177 passengers would be flown, it said.
The Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.42 million is reportedly the largest ethnic community in the UAE constituting roughly about 30 per cent of the country's population, according to information available on the Indian Embassy website.
He also said that he would never accept the award.
Comments
who cares? go to hell
Media made her popular. No valve for this award. I strongly support raviji for this.
I wish that in your next birth you born as a girl in a backward country like Pakistan or Afghanistan , and if then you are able to raise your voice after being shot at and then if you still stay strong and become an inspiration to millions and the word then and only then would you deserve the respect that your are seeking so desperately.
Malala was also a western drama.... More people deserve to be honoured..... But why shriji just opposed malala only..... Shows comunal mentality clearly
I agree with Ravishankarji.
I agree with Ravishankar ji.
Bro Mohammad, #2
There is medicine for JEALOUSY, HATE, CRIME, EVIL habits... But the person should take the change to change himself.
Let the Jealous person read the biography of Prophet Muhammad Pbuh. and also let him read the QURAN which is the Guidance for humanity and how to live life according to the law of God. JEALOUSY will run away automatically if We PONDER on what DIVINE knowledge says to us.
Mr sri sri sri
We all know that your work/service doesn’t come free free free
It’s not a Nobel Prize offer Mr sri sri sri we all know that, at the most, it might have been just a nomination for the prize, which are in hundreds and this information is for you for free free free
He is the no. one duplicate & feku. any one shake him well all his originality will come out. No doubt one day will be soon.
Master Ravi Jeeee First I Thought would have our Great Leader Master Scorer C T Ravi jeee he is right person to award Nobel Peace award. any way Sri / Siri says he was rejected and against to Ms Malala's selection, you all surely know very well, Malala totally un fit to award it but discriminated fools around the world chosen not Maste Narendra Modi selected Ms Malala because you all fools of this criminal minded world knows against of a group or de polarise the entire group. Sri Sri is good to magic man in this world making beautiful woman Fools.
Jai Hoo Narendra Modi.
They gave noble prize for Obama, for what???....I did not find any reason for it....Malala is an inspiration and hope for millions of underprivileged girls around the world...
Really... these awards should be given to Narendra Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, for their rolE to implement successfully Acche din in the country, if this award would have been given to Ravishankar could be better also...Now all are silent this fellow started Barking
Malala Yousafzai has done nothing to deserve Nobel Peace Prize
why did you congratulate #Malala two years ago if you don't think she deserved the @NobelPrize?
WHO CARES FOR U SRI SRI SRI ,
BEC U RAISED THE SLOGAN PAKISTAN ZINDABAD PLEASE GO TO PAKISTAN U HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY HERE ANYMORE ....
I agree with him. I love Malal for her bravery, but when it comes to Nobel prize what was her contribution?
100% i Agree With Shri Shri Ravi Shanker....
After being shot in the head.. she is still fighting for the rights of girls and children.. you say that she is not deserving one.. then who deserves more??
Shri Shri Ravishankar please stop your non-sense,
This swamiji dont have any work simply putting nose to everything. if this swamiji dont want any award let him sit at ashrama, there is no rule to follow him,
Ravi shankar received padmavibhushana this year,
There is no Medicine for JEALOUSY. Dont waste your precious time try to learn about ISALM. And be prepared for your Future.
Dear Sri,
First pay the Pending TAX to the Govt then give the lecture.You did right thing of giving back the Nobel prize as you your self know that you really dont deserve.
He is a Man with Two Faces.
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