Highlights
- Eight more repatriation flights for Indians stranded in Australia
- Bookings for the next phase will open shortly
- Over 8,300 Indians are waiting to be repatriated in this phase
Over 8,300 Indian passport holders are waiting to be repatriated from Australia, who eagerly welcome the next phase of such flights announced earlier today.
After days of uncertainty, the group comprising tourists, international students and temporary work visa holders are now hoping they will have a chance to return to their lives and families, as part of phase 2 of the Indian government’s Vande Bharat Mission, a massive evacuation plan to bring home Indians stranded abroad.
There will be eight more flights from Australia, with four each departing from Sydney and Melbourne. Four of these flights will land in capital city New Delhi, while others will land in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Hyderabad.
Raj Kumar, the Consul General of India in Melbourne told SBS Punjabi that the Indian missions in Australia are working out the details of the next phase.
“We will announce the details of the next phase of flights as soon as we work out the details with the Government of India. We will inform Indian nationals here as soon as the process which is right now in pipeline is confirmed,” said Mr Kumar.
In a previous interview, Mr Kumar said that out of the total 10,000 Indians who had registered their interest with the High Commission to be repatriated, “at least 6,000 were from Melbourne.”
Seven flights have ferried close to 1,800 Indian passport holders - including at least one OCI cardholder - from Australia as part of the first phase of repatriation. Given the high number of people who wish to return home, the Indian government had issued protocols to Indian missions abroad outlining the shortlisting process.
Flight schedule for the next phase of repatriation Source: Ministry of External Affairs India
Explaining the criteria used, Deputy High Commissioner of India, P.S. Karthigeyan said a clear set of parameters were used to draw a list of passengers.
“There were eight parameters used, like somebody with a serious medical condition, somebody who had a family emergency like death, bereavement or critical condition of close relatives.
"Then there were elders and pregnant women, stranded tourists, people who were laid off from their jobs, people whose visas were expiring soon and students whose institutions had shut down due to the COVID-19 situation,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that given the huge number of people who are keen to go home, it would not be possible for them to repatriate everyone who has registered with the High Commission.
“Given the capacity and demand, it’s not possible to repatriate every Indian national to India. We are limited to compelling needs only,” he added.
Brisbane-based Gaurav Kaulgud whose visiting elderly mum was diagnosed with a heart condition last month says, “It could not have been more timely.”
Brisbane-based Gaurav Kaulgud's mother was diagnosed with a heart condition in May. Source: Supplied
“While the news of eight more flights is exciting, I am also a bit anxious and now the next big hurdle is being shortlisted by the High Commission. I hope my parents especially my mother who has a medical emergency and has been given clearance for travel by doctors here would be given priority to travel in this upcoming phase,” says Mr Kaulgud.
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