Special flights evacuate 351 British and Sri Lankan nationals stranded in India

Nearly 250 British nationals and 101 Sri Lankan students who were stranded in India amid COVID-19 lockdown departed from Amritsar International Airport on Thursday.

Earlier on April 21, a relief flight of British Airways h departed from Amritsar with 260 stranded passengers on board. Last week,  British High Commission said that 17 chartered flights will bring back people stranded in India due to COVID-19 lockdown.

RE | COVID-19: UAE To Operate Special Flights To Bring Back Emiratis From India

Special relief flights to rescue foreigners

Special flights from Bengaluru via Ahmedab to London will be operated on April 23. flights will also travel from Delhi to London on April 23, 25 and 27. Flights from Goa to London will fly on April 22 and 24 and a flight from Mumbai to London will operate on April 26.

"We are working around clock to arrange ditional flights from locations where we kw large numbers are still stranded and are extremely grateful for support we are receiving from Government of India and local authorities," said Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India.

RE | 243 Canians Repatriate From Amritsar On A Special Flight Amid Lockdown

"101 Sri Lankan Nationals evacuated by a special Sri Lankan airlines flight. plane landed at Amritsar International Airport this morning and has alrey taken off for Colombo. All passengers were students of Lovely Professional University," KBS Sidhu, Special Chief Secretary, Punjab, tweeted.

relief flight took off with eight crew members, including two pilots and arrived in Katunayake on Thursday. Two more special flights from Sri Lanka will arrive in India to evacuate 117 Sri Lankans from Coimbatore and 93 from Katmandu.

RE | COVID-19: SpiceJet Operates Freighter Flight Carrying Medical Supplies From Delhi To Myanmar

Centre, last month, h anunced a suspension of domestic and international flight till May 3 to prevent surging cases of COVID-19 infection. Due to this, thousands of foreigners stranded across various parts of country. 

As of date, 16,454 active cases have been reported of pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 4,257 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported highest at 5,652. 681 deaths have been reported to date.

RE | PIL Filed In SC For Complete Refund Of Flight Tickets Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Lockdown

(With inputs from ANI)