ONKAR SINGH / NEW DELHI
Government has planned to bring back over One lakh stranded Indians from 60 countries by the end of Phase 2. The Vande Bharat Mission is in full swing and phase two of the Mission is underway till the 13th of June.
Preparations for the third phase likely to commence after mid-June is also underway. Government has informed that nearly 47 thousand Indians have returned to the country till now.
About 5000 Indians have returned through land border immigration checkpoints from Nepal and Bangladesh. MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava has informed that, a total number of 3 lakh eight thousand and 200 people have registered their request with Missions abroad for repatriation to India on compelling grounds.
During Phase II, a total of 429 Air India flights from 60 countries are scheduled to land in India. The Indian Navy will be making four more sorties to bring back returnees from Iran, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
Government is also assisting return of stranded Indians from remote locations in Latin America and Caribbean, Africa, and parts of Europe. This is being done by taking advantage of foreign carriers flying to India primarily for evacuation of their nationals. Recently, about 300 stranded Indians from Peru, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Portugal and Netherlands were brought in. MEA spokesperson has informed more such options will be explored in the near future.
Mr. Srivastava also said private airlines have now been included as part of Phase II of Vande Bharat Mission. Chartered flights have also begun to operate and return of Indian nationals through land borders has commenced. He said the numbers are expected to go up in the coming days with the permission for chartered flights and more efficient use of quarantine capacity.
