Vande Bharat Mission: Air India, Air India Express airlift over 8,500 Indians stranded abroad in last six days

Vande Bharat Mission: After the start of Vande Bharat Mission by Indian Government on 7th May 2020, 8,503 Indians have been flown back to India in 43 inbound flights operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express under Vande Bharat Mission in the last six days. The Ministry of Civil Aviation informed about it while sharing the Vande Bharat latest update.

Government of India started Vande Bharat Mission - one of the largest initiatives to repatriate nationals back to India, on 7th May 2020. Under this mission, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and state Governments for bringing Indians back to their homeland.

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Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express are operating a total of 64 flights (42 by Air India & 24 by AI Express) to 12 countries viz. USA, UK Bangladesh, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Philippines, UAE and Malaysia to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase.

Each and every function in this massive air evacuation mission strictly adhere to the safety and hygiene protocol laid down by the Government and DGCA. MoCA, AAI and Air India leave no stone unturned to prioritize the safety of passengers, the crew and ground handling staff in these sensitive medical evacuation missions.
Extensive and meticulous safety arrangements are made in accordance with government guidelines.

After the world's biggest airlift (1.7 lakh Indians evacuated from Kuwait) executed by the Indian Government during the 1990 Gulf War, this could possibly be the biggest airlift plan again by the Indian Government. On May 4th 2020, the Narendra Modi Government in India announced to facilitate around 2.4 lakh Indian nationals stranded in abroad after the Coronavirus spread and lockdown imposition in India.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, on reaching the destination, every evacuee would have to register on the Aarogya Setu app. Everyone would be medically screened. After scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned State government. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols.