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
when a human being brutally killed, people are talking based on religion...... shame on you guys...... see his face.... it is the height of the cruelty... may his soul rest in peace
ARUN KUMAR
DUBAI
Idiot YOGESH, don't just say what ever you get into your mind, I work for RSS & MRM, You should know the fact that Ismail nelyamajalu used to visit tirupathi lord balaji for darshan with his family once or twice a year, he also used to conduct jathara(festival) at a temple in sullia, DK, every year. He was a very kind human being more than a muslim & a politician.
A very good husband, father, brother and a friend, I personally know him since 2013.
Please know the facts before you bark.
Naren, you did not explain what is 72.....you are just making bow, bow,..... you are free to take action against any one making hate comments .....
Dear mr SK ,mr true Indian ...police commissioner alla even DIG bekadru complaint kodi ...mr viren ,bopanna and yogesh and including me have the right to comment ..its not a social media like Facebook and twitter to lodge complain ...this is strictly controlled by admin ......cyber cell will also check anti Hindu comments too ..do u think we will keep quiet ...? We also know laws ...how we can sit when our patriotic organisation like sangh is mocked ...so better mind ur business ...better u talk to CD ...being a responsible media they are responsible for posting news which don't instigate ...but they are not doing ....
Naren, singapore ..what is this figure of 72 ... can you explain further ????
True Indian, Mangalore...it is better to report such matters with mangalore police commissioner,Mr chandrashekar....
Frustrated Brothers Naren And Viren.Papa pandu.Day is not far to pay for all your Comments.In sha allah.We give damn to all your Comments.Carry On.
Papa athmakke shaanthi sigali ..mele 72 virgins sigali .........yelli faizhal Bhai kaanistha illa .....banree \ innu illari rajiwoon antha helree \""
Coastal Digest please do not entertain Brother Viren's Such Comment which disturbs the readers or else we will have to complain against him with the Cyber cell.Please take this message seriously.
Death is not a disaster simply a passing from this world onto the next. It should make us reflect and ponder about the purpose of the life and what will become of us after death. Innah ilahi wa inna ilaihi rajihoon Deep condolence insha Allah grant him forgiveness and higher in heavens. Ameen
I have conducted a survey of Friday murders in coastal Karnataka. Especially immediately after or before Muslims special prayers. 99% of such murders are committed by Muslims only.
So Yogesh is making a confession that BJP is behind this murder ?
Shocking incident, he was really a prominent leader of congress. anyways rest in peace.
May his soul rest in peace
whoever made this brutal crime must be punish them in the like same. seriously a inhuman act.
How people can b so cruel? Y can't we lead our four days of life happily. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.
Innalillahi va inna ilayhi rajivoon
Innalillah
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajiwoon.
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