More than 24,000 Indians stranded in US have expressed curiosity in travelling again (Representational)
Washington:
Around 224 Indians stranded within the US because of the coronavirus-induced lockdown are getting ready to board the primary repatriation flight from San Francisco to Mumbai and Hyderabad on Saturday.
In the primary part of the US-India phase of the ”Operation Vande Bharat- A homecoming”, flights have been deliberate from San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington DC to New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bengaluru.
As many as 1,961 Indians are more likely to be repatriated by seven flights from the 4 cities within the first part, officers stated.
More than 24,000 Indians stranded within the US have expressed their curiosity in travelling again house overseas the particular Air India flights.
The first of the collection of particular Air India flight carrying 224 Indian nationals is scheduled to fly from San Francisco on Saturday night time.
Over the following one week, as many as 1,961 Indians are more likely to be repatriated by seven flights from 4 totally different cities.
According to Indian Embassy officers, precedence is being given to these Indian nationals who had been laid off from work, have medical emergencies or visa expiry situation, pregnant ladies, senior residents, demise within the household and college students.
The tickets within the first part are being determined by an digital random choice technique.
So far, the biggest variety of repatriation registration (6,600) has been from the New York Consulate space, adopted by San Francisco (5,600), Chicago (3,500), Houston (3,300), Atlanta (2,500) and the Indian Embassy in Washington DC (2,300).
Given the big variety of registrations, officers are additionally gearing up for the second part of the evacuation.
“We are also ready for another week (of flights). The number (of those who have registered for repatriation) are staggering,” a senior Indian Embassy official stated, hours earlier than the departure of the flight from San Francisco.
The vacation spot Indian cities would possibly change within the second part, officers stated, including that the main points of the second part of the ”Vande Bharat” mission is more likely to be introduced subsequent week.
Officials stated within the subsequent part, different classes like folks of Indian origin and different nationalities may also be thought of.
US has one of many largest numbers of Indian nationals within the western world. The Indian inhabitants within the US is estimated to be round a million, together with over 200,000 college students, 600,000 Green Card holders, 155,000 on H-1B visas and 1000’s of on vacationer and enterprise visas.
The final of the collection of the particular Air India flight within the first part is scheduled to fly from Chicago on May 15 to Delhi and Hyderabad.
Other flights are on May 10 from Newark to Mumbai and Ahmedabad; May 11 from Chicago to Mumbai and Chennai; May 12 from Washington DC to Delhi and Hyderabad; May 13 from San Francisco to Delhi and Bengaluru; and on May 14 from Newark to Delhi and Hyderabad.
“The cost of travel from designated airport in the USA to the designated airport in India will be borne by the passengers,” the Indian Embassy stated in a journey advisory this week.
The embassy and consulates will share the main points of passengers recognized with Air India Offices that may contact them straight relating to reserving of tickets and mode of cost.
The pre-paid worth for economic system class ticket on these repatriation flights from the US prices USD 1,362 and that for Business Class is USD 3,722 and USD 5,612 for First Class passengers.
External Affairs Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued detailed tips for passengers and protocol to be adopted through the flight and instantly after their arrival in India.
“All passengers will be required to undergo medical screening before boarding the flight and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel. All passengers on arrival in India will be medically screened and would have to download and register on Arogya Setu app,” the embassy stated.
“All passengers will need to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine on arrival in India in institutional quarantine facilities on payment basis as per the protocols framed by Government of India. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to applicable health protocols,” it stated.
The passengers are can even be required to signal an enterprise, which shall be collected from them on the airport earlier than boarding the flight.
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, India is conducting ”Vande Bharat” Mission — its greatest ever repatriation train — to deliver again stranded Indians from overseas, together with from the US, the UAE and the UK.
Nearly 15,000 Indians are anticipated to return on particular Air India flights from 12 international locations within the coming days.
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