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
He is a rss feeded dog started bark again. No guts to earn by self confidence or by ability and now likcking desh drohi rss feet.
A shame and insult to mankind.
ask him how much money paid for the munaafiq. he is not muslim ,that is why barking .
If i speak logic, i would say suspend these stupid publicity stunt-men
Dear Reshma, i am sorry to learn that you are following this rotten egg. He is a waste in our community and we have kicked out him. He is shoe lickers of sangh parivar and i am sorry to say that if you too like it go with him. He has no right to give this comment. Madrasas are not his father's property. By the way this waste Rizvi is kicked out by his community also and even his parents are ashamed of giving birth to such a rotten egg. This rotten egg Rizvi is follower of Devil and has no respect to any one including hiw own parents. If you still praise him, i think you better consult any Doctor.
do his statements are based on any reports, muslims may agree... ISIS idealogy spread not thru madrasa education but online education without any proper guidance of ulemas (knowledgable person with islamic scriptures). proper Madrasa education may eradicate ISIS idealogy... these soulless shia idealogues with the help of zeonists , capitalists and fascists , want to promote ISIS.. that is reason , they are demanding to shut down madrasa system.
Yogi's slave. We cant excpet more than this from him
Well said sir. Should shut all madrasas
Bitter Truth
This man seems to be good. He told the truth. Should shut down all madrasas. They are injecting unwanted education
The Ashram from wherre you learned should be shut first. Because you are the number one criminal, corrupted, communal terrorist.
This fool should be hanged for his illogic statements.
Who the hell this creature Rizvi to talk about Madrasas. Are Madrasas run by his Father's help. Bull shit. Let him go to hell. He is chappa licker of sangh parivar and appeasing central Govt by giving illogic, illegal and unworthy statements criticisign Muslims only to hide looting of crores of rupees from wakf board. He is a thug and looter. He is not a Muslim and has no right to talk about Madrasas. This hate monger should be dragged out to street and garlanded with old chappals and shoes. He is kicked by his own community for his cheating them. He is being funded by sangh parivar for his wrong doings and illegal activities. Police should dig out his past history and income.
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