Centre to operate 64 flights from 7 to 13 May to bring back 14,800 stranded Indian from 12 countries

New Delhi: The Central government is likely to operate 64 flights from 7 to 13 May to bring home around 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad because of the coronavirus lockdown, said senior government officials on Tuesday.

These exceptional flights would be worked via Air India and its auxiliary Air India Express to repatriate Indians from 12 nations — the UAE, the UK, the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, said the authorities. 

India has been under lockdown since 25 March to check the spread of the coronavirus and it will proceed till May 17. All business traveler flights have been suspended for this period. 

Consequently, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared on Monday it will encourage the arrival of asymptomatic Indian nationals abandoned abroad from 7 May onwards, in a staged way, through airplane and maritime ships on an installment



premise. 

Between May 7 and 13, India is probably going to lead 10 trips to the UAE, seven flights each to the US and the UK, five to Saudi Arabia, five to Singapore, and two trips to Qatar, the authorities told PTI.

It is also likely to conduct seven flights each to Malaysia and Bangladesh, five each to Kuwait and Philippines, two each to Oman and Bahrain, the officials noted.

Out of the 64 repatriation flights, 15 would be from Kerala, 11 each would be from Delhi and Tamil Nadu, seven each would be from Maharashtra and Telangana, and remaining flights would be from five other states, the officials said.

"Approximately 14,800 Indian nationals are likely to return to the country through these 64 flights during the seven-day period. The government will run more repatriation flights after 13 May," one of the officials said.

The coronavirus has infected more than 46,400 people and killed around 1,560 people in India till now.