India begins repatriation mission to bring citizens home

India on Thursday began ‘Vande Bharat mission’, world’s largest repatriation mission, to bring back stranded citizens from abroad due to the corona pandemic.

64 flights will fly in a week, as the government plans to bring 14,800 Indians from 12 countries in the first phase.

The first flight with 177 passengers from Abu Dhabi landed in Kochi followed by a second flight from Dubai to Calicut.

Air India has opened booking opened for eligible foreign nationals and valid visa holders willing to travel to the UK, US, and Singapore for outbound repatriation flights that will be operated between May 7 to May 14.

Passengers will have to pay the airlines fare and the cost for 14-day mandatory quarantine.