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.
Insisting that the issue is not related to religion but involves respect and dignity of women, he said the government “respects faith but worship and social evil cannot coexist.”
Comments
Dear Ravi Shankar, where were u when hundreds of muslim women were butchered in Gujarat, why cant you give justice to Ahsaan Jafry wife, where is Najeeb and why are u closing eyes while Najeeb's mom is requesting for justice. You are a crocodile and Lomli. You have already fooled Naqwi + Shahnawaz and trying to fool others also. You will not get success in this. You are a hypocrite and opportunist. You may marry those women who are contacting you regarding the issue as they are not respecting Islam and may be ready to marry you.
First give justice to Mrs.Jaffery for burning her husband alive. Give justice to honorable MP E. Ahmed's family for disrespecting his death.
In islam women's are getting more respect,dignity and protection than any other religion. Study religion of islam in its right path then you will understand the beauty of Islam.
Mr. Shankar, let us discuss about this subject after UP election....not a nice time...you are speaking just to grab votes from muslim women....
Mr.Shanker say our PM to respect his wife first nd then say our party to respect women. I think you forget Mangalore pub issue. Everyone respect women. No one is perfect here.
Wonderful Masterjee, which part of the world you had been, bap ray bap Are you Law minister of Hindustan??? so first you learn Hindustan ruling Law, do not try to Implement Your RSS Goonda criminal Law in our beautiful Hindustan, at least you became Law minister to Implement the Law not to break and create problem around Hindustan, now understood that you are afraid to face Uttar Pradesh election, that's why all these bulsh*ts coming up.
Masterjee no chance papa Crimes are increasing loot pat increasing... nothing else to do... so coming to resolve Triple Talaq!!!!!
That's not your business.
Jai hoo Modianna.
Jai hoo Siddanna.
First secure your slipping seats and majority due to people's frustration.......then talk about Tripple talaq......one thing you listen you son of HITLER......when you follow HITLER's footstep it also reminds his END
because you are challenging GOD\s law.....not your man made Manu vad or man made stories...."
Dear Mr. Ravi shankar, this is just for Election Gimmick u cant able handle , jaag utenge indian Muslims ........... be careful
Wrong practice by Muslims has open the doors to Kafirs to interfere in our religious matters ....
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