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
one of the chut#yst man i ever seen in this news portal..do you think modi is internet email so all the people with him...first change your cow dunge to human brain and come to mangalore for treatment...
Doctor name Dr Kamath surgen 9967453786...
is it ok for you to replace with bakra brain...then dont blame muslim for that..reason we have sortage of human brain due to election
Ananth Kumar, what have you done for the people other then living the life style of the rich and famous with the poor tax payers money and warming up your seat. Nobody can match Siddaramiah he has done 100 foldes of you guys had done.. BJP leaders have nothing tangable to show that's why you guys keep bring up the watch issue. Please vote for Congress! so Siddaramiah can be our CM for a better future for the people of Karnataka.
Moustache still black by the grace of Kolesston colour but Laak chupawo Chupna sakegha Jhoota bjp walon ka jhoot ka chehra. Shakuni mamoo next mp election u will not be anywhere in Karnataka Map.
Wait and watch. first leg will be within a week and the final leg 2019 supda saap no adress of bjp or rss or u.
Anant, thu kasan sangtha maraya, lutha bais. 15 May pale Kazan zatha mum. Yeddi che chaddi votha.
Dear Ananthkumar, you are able and fit leader to be next CM of karnataka. You are always tellig the truth and open to all. We, the people of your constituency fully support you as our care taker and helping us. You are like our God Father.
Anant Kumar is 100 percent correct. Cogress will not get a single seat against the wave's of MODI and YOGI. Our great national hero leader PM Modi has already told that people of Karnataka have made their mind to kick out Congress and select only BJP in karnataka and to be followed by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra. I think Electon Commission should stop voting in Karnataka to save billions of Rupees as people have already informed our Leader great Modi that they will vote for BJP only. It will be a waste of money for Congress and other parties also as BJP is going to sweep almost all the seats. Our PM is a great astrologer and has dreamt about the win in Karnataka and whatever he dreams it comes true. He had dream of becomingPM of india and it became true. He also dreamed that he will visit also all the countries in the world and its nearly completing as he has left only few countries to visit. Jai Modi ji . Jai Hind.
All Bjp leadrs are day dreaming for power in karnataka which will end on 15th may 2018.Let them happy upto that day. JAI KARNATAKA JAI INDIA.NO FEAR INDIA IS OUR SLOGAN.
Ananth Kumar and Anant Kumar Hegde, both are same in mindset. always spits nonsenses
A study shows BJP is 'richest' political party and the money not in the name of party it's owned by BJP leaders individually. They are not showing it while filing nomination and they are not paying income tax also
The irony is, cow dung fools are criticising normal people
Soon BJP will be eradicated from India due to Computer baba, rapist BJP MLAs, Yogi and Feku etc
In other countries, ministers and elected persons will be highly qualified specific area focused people. Here in India, all BJP MLAs and ministers are some cow dungs
India will be free of BJP due to Modi and his MLA fools
I am not a supporter of any political leader or party. But yeah i'll definitely choose a candidate wisely while voting irrespect of his caste or party.
Mr. Ananth kumar what you know about the facilities the present govt has provided for the farmers by sitiing in Delhi?
Mr. Siddu ( I am not a suppoter of him anyway) has done Something for the farmers of his state. Dont blindnly fool the people of karnataka.
Its sad that farmers are ending their lives all over India..
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