Coronavirus: 25,000 Indians stranded in Dubai repatriated home since May 7

Dubai - Over 440,000 Indians have registered on the missions' request for repatriation website.

Approximately 25,000 distressed Indian expatriates have been repatriated from the UAE since the launch of the Vande Bharat Mission on May 7, including those on charter flights as well. Neeraj Agarwal, Consul Press, Information and Culture at the Consulate General of India in Dubai said nearly 15,000 Indians have been repatriated from the UAE on the Vande Bharat Mission flights and 10,000 have departed on charter flights.
"Since the beginning of the operations, we have received applications from a total of 140 private companies and community groups," said Agarwal.
He added, "It is an ongoing process and Delhi is sending approvals for charter flights at least two to three days in advance. With the exceptions of one to two applications, almost all approvals are coming through from Delhi and the respective States the flight is going to," said Agarwal. Most of the passengers flying out are professionals who have suffered job losses and their family members.
"A sizeable number are stranded tourists, some suffering unpaid leaves, labourers, medical emergency cases, and pregnant women are on-board these flights as well," he added. On Wednesday alone, about 3,000 people leaving on 16 chartered flights to cities in Kerala, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.
Over 440,000 requests to fly home
Over 440,000 Indians have registered on the missions' request for repatriation portals to fly home. With the addition of several new flights on the Vande Bharat Mission, charter operations, and the entry of private airlines in the mission, several thousand more are expected to fly home in the coming days.
After the initial hiccups, community groups and private companies are repatriating several hundreds of people every day.
The Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, Indian Association Sharjah, Indian Association Ajman, Malayalee Arts and Sports Cultural Centre (MASCA), All Kerala Colleges Alumni Federation, UAE PRO Association, and All Kerala Pravasi Association are some among the large number of groups organizing repatriation flights.
Adv Ibrahim Khaleel, secretary and legal centre chairman of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre told Khaleej Times, the group has organised approximately 30 flights to India since the launch of the mission.
"The various KMCC state, district, and constitutional committees from Dubai and other Emirates have flown to Kerala so far. Also, we have approval from the Kerala state government to operate 40 more flights in the coming days," he said. KMCC is charging passengers Dh 925 per flight. However, passengers are paying anything between Dh925- Dh1,300 for a single ticket on board these flights.
Indian Association Ajman's (IAA) chartered flight from Dubai to Kozhikode took off from Dubai on Thursday with 188 stranded Indians. On Saturday, two more flights are departing to Kannur, said IAA general secretary Roop Sidhu. "We are looking to organize more charter flights to different destinations in India. We wholeheartedly thank the Consulate General of India for his great support," he added. Zaman Abdul Kader, a social worker is organizing four flights for various smaller organisations. It is understood that most flights are flying to Kerala.
Joyalukkas arranged an Air Arabia flight for its employees who were stranded amid the coronavirus outbreak. The flight departed from Sharjah at 10.20 pm on June 15, with 143 adults, 25 children and six infants, and arrived at Kochi International Airport at 4.15am. Chairman and MD of the group, Joy Alukkas said: "When our employees joined our service, we promised them that we will take care of them, always. And now is the time to show them that we are right by their side during this pandemic."
 
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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