Indian airlines submit evacuation plan to Centre to bring back citizens stranded abroad

Responding to Centre's anuncement of evacuating stranded Indian citizens abroad, Air India and or private airlines have submitted an evacuation plan to Union Government. IndiGo has stated that airlines are prepared with aircraft, crew and network to support government and bring back Indian citizens from Middle-East. Government has stated that it would initiate operations to bring back Indians from May 7. 

Speaking to ANI, IndiGo Chief Commercial Officer William Boulter said, "re are over 1.5 lakh Indians, who are eir stranded due to suspension of operations or have registered to fly back owing to loss of ir jobs due to pandemic. We are waiting to hear from government on evacuation plan and next steps. We would be er to play a role and contribute at this critical time."

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Centre to facilitate return of stranded Indians 

In a major relief for Indians stranded abroad, Centre on Monday anunced that ir travel will be arranged via aircraft and naval ships in a phased manner. It added that Indian High Commissions and embassies are preparing a list of distressed Indian citizens. However, it clarified that this facility is available on payment-basis and will begin in a phased manner on May 7.

READ | People Should Stay Where y Are, Says SC On Pleas To Evacuate Indians Abroad

Centre added that only asymptomatic people will be allowed to travel after medical scrutiny. It also mandated installation of Aarogya Setu app and 14-day institutional quarantine on payment basis. Ministry of External Affairs and Civil aviation ministry will soon share details while state governments have been advised to make arrangements for testing, quarantine and ir journey onwards.

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MEA & SC: People should stay re

While Ministry of External Affairs has set up a cell to facilitate return of Indians stuck abroad, apex court in April maintained that Indian citizens stranded in various countries due to COVID-19 pandemic should "stay where y are". This was in response to Centre saying it would t be feasible to "selectively evacuate" those who want to return due to various reasons. MEA has assured that it is in coordination with respective governments and has constituted a 4-member special cell with Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi to coordinate response to COVID-19.

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(With ANI Inputs)