India will begin the world's largest ever repatriation mission today to bring back citizens stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first two flights from the UAE will take off carrying 177 passengers each today. The Abu Dhabi-Kochi flight will take off at 4.15pm and the Dubai-Kozhikode flight at 5pm.
Passengers started arriving at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports as early as 9.30am on Thursday.Neighbours Shaheen Shafana and Parveena are pregnant and will be among the first batch of Indians to fly out of Dubai.
“It is a great relief. I am 30 weeks pregnant and due on July 12,” said Shafana. Her husband Azeen, who is at the airport to see his wife off, said they decided to take the repatriation flight because Shafana is still fit to travel. “We are really excited. This is our first baby. But I am working and unable to take care of her.”
Her friend Parveena who stays in the same residential complex said they decided to fly home together. “It is a bit risky. But it is worth it as we prefer to be with our families before the delivery,” said Parveena.2:25pm
Lamees Latheef, a mother who is six months pregnant, is all set to fly to her hometown in Kozhikode. She will be traveling with her six-year-old son Syed Sahal. Her husband Syed Shamail said, “Only my wife and kid are travelling at the moment. She is facing some complications in her delivery and has a chance of early delivery. We got the ticket yesterday.”2:15pm
Arun George who is sending his pregnant wife Susiya Sebastian and their kid on the first flight to Kozhikode said he is stressed over the fact that he has to send them alone, but the couple say they have no choice.
“Without a medical insurance, it is impossible to deliver our baby in the UAE. Luckily, in Kerala, we don’t have to stay in an institutional quarantine. I know we will be safer in Kerala,” said Susiya.
1:39pm
I’m very happy that this is happening during the Holy Month of Ramadan:Vipul
"I’m very happy that today we have this flight from Dubai to Kozhikode. This is the first flight which is going after so long from Dubai to India. It’s a mix of people who are going in the 177 seats we have on this flight. We have elderly people, workers who have lost their jobs, pregnant ladies, a lot of people who have medical conditions," Consul General of India to Dubai Vipul told Khaleej Times.
"With the pandemic situation, it was pretty bad for people, but there was no other choice but for the lockdown and flights were not there. But now from today, it’s happening. More people are going back to India from today. And I’m very happy that this is happening during the Holy Month of Ramadan and also a day when it’s celebrated as --- so, an auspicious day on which people are starting to return to India."
SOURCE : KHALEEJTIMES