The storm had already claimed the lives of at least two people in China's Hainan and 16 people in the Philippines
Two passengers at Abu Dhabi airport failed to clear the Covid-19 IGM/IGG rapid test and one had issues with immigration clearance. Under the Vande Bharat Mission, this was the first flight from the UAE Capital to the Telangana state.
Unlike the delay caused on Thursday, the opening day of repatriation flight to Kochi, the entire process, including medical screening, was streamlined and the plane took off for Hyderabad on time from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
"Many people have come to the airport in the hope that there will be no-shows. We understand their situation, as it is not easy for medical cases and women in advanced pregnancies. However, what I have assured is that they will be on the top of the priority list in the coming flights," he said.
Commenting on the issue of selecting people to travel to India, Vipul said, "We should hopefully get more flights in the next week. We are very careful in contacting people and taking people who have a compelling reason to return home." He has requested patience from stranded Indian citizens, and confirmed there will be more flights in the coming week.
"You must understand that the Kerala community is very large here, and, therefore, not everyone will be accommodated in the first few flights. We are trying to do our best by accommodating as many people as possible. Next week, our priority is to take in as many pregnant ladies as possible, especially those in advanced stages. Hopefully, we should have a schedule of flights soon," explained Vipul.
He thanked the UAE authorities for their support in conducting this exercise. "The whole process is going very smoothly. The UAE authorities have really helped us, especially with the IgG and IgM tests," added Vipul.
An Air India Express flight to Kochi, IX 454, will take off from Dubai, and another flight to Hyderabad will depart from Abu Dhabi shortly.
A majority of the passengers on board the flight to Kochi were pregnant women, senior citizens on visit and tourist visas, and expats wishing to perform the last rites of their deceased parents and relatives.
A few of them suffered job losses and some families were seen at the airport as well. Officials from the Consulate General of India at the site in Dubai confirmed to Khaleej Times that over 30 pregnant women will be flying home today. Medical screenings and check-in formalities were being organised by Dubai Health Authority and airport officials.
Suma Manoharan, an expat who is 35 weeks pregnant, told Khaleej Times she got a ticket to fly at the very last moment. She said, "I've been trying to leave home to Kerala as I am staying alone here, without my family or my husband. I am really happy that I can fly home now."
Approximately 11 women were also on the waiting list, in case there are no-shows or passengers cannot fly due to immigration issues.
Meenu Vincent, a pregnant mom and a nurse with the Ministry of Health and Protection (MoHAP) on the waiting list is 35 weeks pregnant as well. "I am currently on maternity leave. My husband left to India, and he got stuck there. Our plan was always to leave for India to give birth to my baby, since I am all alone here without my family with me."
Her son Joy said, "We came here on a month-long tourist visa. However, due to the Covid-19 situation we got stranded here. Today, we can finally fly home." Thresia's name is the first one on the list of passengers to be leaving today.
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Suma Manoharan, an expat who is 35 weeks pregnant, told Khaleej Times she got a ticket to fly at the very last moment. She said, "I've been trying to leave home to Kerala as I am staying alone here, without my family."
(KT photo: Juidin Bernarrd) pic.twitter.com/4OZIPZbAA0
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Meenu Vincent, 35 weeks pregnant mom on waiting list for flight to Kochi. "My husband left to India, and he got stuck there. Our plan was always to leave for India to give birth to my baby."@IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai
(KT photo: Juidin Bernarrd) pic.twitter.com/Tb8tn4C1X9
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: A majority of the passengers on board the flight to Kochi were pregnant women, senior citizens on visit and tourist visas, and expats wishing to perform the last rites of their deceased parents and relatives. (2/2) https://t.co/fG2DZtqfUH pic.twitter.com/fy3w0xr8Gp
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Passengers arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport to take the repatriation flight to Hyderabad on Monday. https://t.co/fG2DZtqfUH @IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai | #MissionVandeBharat
(KT photo: Ryan Lim) pic.twitter.com/MY2No5laXj
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Geeta Padmarajan and Jhansi Suraj arrived in the UAE on March 11. "We came to the UAE to organise a dance workshop, and we got stranded here after India announced the lockdown." The women said they are happy to be able to leave today. KT photo: Juidin pic.twitter.com/SXWkidby8S
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
Passengers arrive at Dubai International Airport to take the repatriation flight to Kochi on Monday. India has begun its largest-ever repatriation exercise #VandeBharatMission to bring back citizens stranded abroad due to the #Covid19 pandemic.
KT video by Juidin Bernarrd pic.twitter.com/KWzpeT20Jh
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Anuja Jomesh at Dubai International Airport to take the repatriation flight to Kochi. An Air India Express flight to Kochi, IX 454, will take off from Dubai shortly.@IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai | #VandeBharatMission
(KT photo: Juidin Bernarrd) pic.twitter.com/Ost0IBKdIb
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Deeshma (34 weeks pregnant) with her husband Shebin at Dubai International Airport to take the repatriation flight to Kochi.@IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai | #VandeBharatMission
(KT photo: Juidin Bernarrd) pic.twitter.com/i6phwAfPjV
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Dubai-based expat Prabhu Das, 22 years, is heading home for surgery. "I am working at a private firm here since I was 19. I fell in my bathroom and dislocated my shoulder. Once I am fine and I will surely return." @IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai pic.twitter.com/YTOy9fDYNI
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Repatriation flight of Air India Express AI1920 to take off from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad at 3pm. Stay tuned to our page for more updates.#MissionVandeBharat | @IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai
(KT photos: Ryan Lim) pic.twitter.com/m9EihylrtE
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Srinivas Layudla, a 26-year-old, is here in the UAE for just six months and leaving with a pledge to return once the situation improves. (KT photo: Ryan Lim)@IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai pic.twitter.com/KBmhCSS0MF
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
#RepatriationFlightsToIndia: Ramesh Kumar, an Indian expat in the UAE for 15 years, lost his mother back home on Saturday. Kumar is leaving onboard Abu Dhabi - Hyderabad repatriation flight hoping to perform the last rites of his mother. (1/2)@IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai pic.twitter.com/LYQJadxYFz
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
Repatriation flight of Air India Express AI1920 to take off from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad at 3pm. (KT photo: Ryan Lim)#MissionVandeBharat | @IndembAbuDhabi | @cgidubai pic.twitter.com/XmG8hCXR3v
- Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) May 11, 2020
The storm had already claimed the lives of at least two people in China's Hainan and 16 people in the Philippines
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