Combating coronavirus: India's mammoth repatriation efforts to be called 'Vande Bharat Mission'

India's massive undertaking to repatriate thousands of its stranded citizens abroad will be called 'Vande Bharat Mission,' External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar announced on Tuesday, May 5. The foreign Minister took to his Twitter account to share photos of the meeting taking place at his office with regards to the preparations of the plan.
He tweeted, "Commenced preparations for 'Vande Bharat Mission'. Planning underway for stranded Indian nationals to return home starting 7th May. Urge them to keep in regular touch with their Embassies."
Dr S Jaishankar said, "Coordinating arrival arrangements with State Governments. Confident that our collective efforts will make this a success." From May 7-13, India will bring back 14,800 of its citizens stranded in 12 different countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As missions in the UAE prepares itself to repatriate the first batch of stranded Indians, it has been confirmed that two flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi will depart to Kozhikode and Kochi in Kerala, respectively, on May 7.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that India will send 10 flights to the UAE, seven flights each to the US and the UK, five flights to Saudi Arabia, five flights to Singapore and two flights to Qatar.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com