Official assures Indians of return flights

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Indians living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates have been advised not to visit the Indian consulate in Dubai to obtain a ticket to return to India under the Vande Bharat Mission.

Instead, they should contact the consulate through toll free number 800 46342 or through 24-hour helpline 0565463903, 0543090575.

Consul General of India (CGI) in Dubai Vipul said that a lot of people are still coming to the consulate in the hope that they will get the ticket to return to India, which is not the correct way to obtain it.

“People should not congregate on the consulate campus in hope of getting a confirmed ticket. This is not right, both from the perspective of law and from the perspective of the COVID-19 situation.”

“We are trying our best and will continue this effort. I would appeal to all the people not to come to the consulate as far as possible. Connect with us only through phone or email,” he said.

Vipul said that the consulate has been receiving applications from the Indian citizens and a large number of them have registered through the dedicated website to return to India. The consulate has involved the community members to ensure transparency in picking up the most needy of them to go back to India.

“We understand the anguish of everyone who is waiting for his/her turn to go back to India. Please have patience, more flights are coming and people would be able to return to India. We have to act together and we have to act with patience,” he said.

Since the beginning of the Vande Bharat Mission on May 7, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has repatriated about 11,000 Indians to various cities in India through more than 60 flights operated by Air India and Air India Express.

The consulate also arranged sending 42 mortal remains.

On Monday, six flights were operated from Dubai to Gaya, Cochin, Kannur, Kozhikode, Trivandrum and Goa carrying more than 1025 passengers.

Since the beginning of the Vande Bharat Mission, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi helped 5642 Indians repatriate to various destinations in India till May 31.

A total of 23 special flights carried 4,074 passengers, while 1,568 passengers travelled to India through nine chartered flights.

One person’s mortal remains were also sent home from Abu Dhabi.

Air India on Friday had announced additional flights between June 4 and 6 to bring back Indians stranded abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The flights will evacuate Indians from the US, UK, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, and Sweden.