London: Over 2,200 Indian nationals stranded in the United Kingdom due to the COVID-19 related international travel restrictions have been flown back home during the first phase of India’s biggest ever repatriation exercise, according to official figures.
Since the first special Air India flight took off May 8 from the Heathrow Airport here for Mumbai, there have been eight routes to different Indian cities from the UK for Indian students and tourists. Indian nationals have been flown home to the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
“We have facilitated repatriation of 2,288 Indians stranded in the UK through eight Air India flights till May 17. ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ continues to get Indians home,” said the Indian High Commission in London.
The ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ is India’s biggest ever repatriation exercise to bring back Indians from abroad who are unable to travel home due to COVID-19 related international travel restrictions.
As the second phase of the repatriation process gets underway, retired Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanashyam will be among the Indians flying back Thursday to New Delhi.
“It has been such a hectic period, but I hope to return to the UK to say goodbyes in person sometime in the future,” Ghanashyam said during a virtual farewell organised Monday by the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA UK).
As the packed flights take off daily, there are some still desperately waiting their turn, including those wanting to fly to some cities that are yet to be scheduled, including Kolkata.
“I have two young daughters, elderly parents, and a wife back at home. There is no way to return to Kolkata. I am worried for my parents,” said Suvendu, who came to the UK for work but recently lost his job.
“I am really surprised there are no Kolkata flights yet, but I am hoping they will be announced in the future,” added Dr Arpita Ray, whose father needs to fly back home.
Another group waiting their turn to return home to their families in India includes students in the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) category, which remains suspended in India’s extended COVID-19 lockdown.
According to the regulations issued by the Indian government last month and updated last week, visas of foreign nationals and OCI cards, that provide visa-free travel privileges to the people of Indian-origin, have been suspended as part of the new international travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our plight is no different from the struggles being faced by Indian students who hold Indian passports – India is home for all us,” said Tridip, an undergraduate at SOAS University here.
“Yes, air travel at this point of time may be a risk but we are of course ready to take all precautionary measures and undergo the mandatory quarantine period upon arrival in India,” the 18-year-old added.
Bianta, a student at Bangor University in Wales, said: “Along with all of the mental stress, financially the UK is too expensive. In the coming weeks my rental agreement will expire, after which I will have nowhere to go. I cannot continue funding myself here in the UK as I only planned to be here till May marking the end of my course. Please help us get home. The colour of my passport does not define where my home is.”
PTI