Vande Bharat Mission: Air India's 7th flight leaves from Moscow to bring home 143 citizens

As a part of the 'Vande Bharat' Mission, Air India's 7th evacuation flight from Moscow took off on Wednesday morning for Gaya, Bihar. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Embassy in Moscow stated that the flight departed at 03:12 in the morning with 143 passengers on board. 

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Over 57,000 stranded citizens returned to India since May 6

57,000 Indians evacuated 

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri revealed that since May 6, over 57,000 stranded citizens have returned to India under the government's 'Vande Bharat Mission'. Taking to Twitter, Puri mentioned that on Tuesday around 2,865 Indians returned to the country from other countries including Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lagos, Dammam, Muscat, Moscow, Bishkek, and Jeddah. 

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: 1st evacuation flight from Bahrain lands in Cochin with 177 people

'Vande Bharat' Mission

In a major relief for Indians stranded abroad, the Centre had announced that their travel will be arranged via aircraft and naval ships in a phased manner. The first phase of the mission was set for 7 days starting from May 7 to rescue stranded Indians from over 11 countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Maldives, Singapore, and the US. 

In the second phase of the mission, the Indian government had said to bring back stranded Indians from around 31 countries from May 16 to 22. However, the government extended the date for the second phase till June 13.

More countries have been added in the second phase including Finland, South Korea, Belgium, New Zealand, Netherlands, Kenya, Mauritius, Spain, Myanmar, Maldives, Egypt, and Sri Lanka.  Meanwhile, the Embassy has already begun planning for the third phase of the 'Vande Bharat Mission' which will commence from June 15 in the US. 

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Two airports in Andhra Pradesh receive 459 stranded Indians

Read: Vande Bharat Mission: Delhi, Kochi bound flight from Rome takes off with 239 passengers