Highlights
- Indian government announces evacuation plans for citizens stranded abroad
- Nearly 1,000 Indian nationals in Australia have registered their interest to return home
- CGI Melbourne says they have not received any "official confirmation" from India yet.
Nearly 1,000 Indian nationals stranded in Australia have registered with the High Commission to fly home, ever since India closed its borders and suspended all international flights on March 22.
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 the Indian government on Monday unveiled its ‘massive’ evacuation plans.
In a, the government declared that non-scheduled commercial flights and naval ships will be arranged for Indian nationals in distress abroad, adding that the service will be offered on “payment basis”.
"The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. The Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) has been prepared in this regard," the statement read.
The government further stated that the Indian embassies and High Commissions are preparing a list of Indian nationals anxious to return home to facilitate the process.
As per the latest information, the first two repatriation flights will fly out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.
While the first naval ships have already departed to rescue Indian stranded in the Maldives.
Raj Kumar, the Consul General of India in Melbourne, who has been in constant touch with the Indian nationals in Australia told SBS Punjabi, that “so far the consulate has not received any official; information from the Government of India.”
“We will inform the affected Indian nationals here in Australia as soon as we receive official correspondence from the government,” said Mr Kumar.
Arvind Venkat with his wife and in-laws. Source: Supplied
'Matter of life and death'
For Sydney-based IT professional Arvind Venkat, whose mother-in-law suffered a renal failure during a visit to Australia, the news has brought a ray of hope.
“My mother-in-law had come to Sydney to stay here until my wife’s delivery. But on April 14th, she complained of pain in her legs. When we took her to the GP, he told us that both her kidneys had stopped functioning and she would be required to put on immediate dialysis,” said Mr Venkat.
The 34-year-old who has suffered significant loss of work hours due to the pandemic claims he has already spent more than $40,000 on her treatment in the last three weeks.
Mr Venkat said for him and his family it’s now a “matter of life and death.”
“For us, this whole thing has gone beyond the basic needs of food and finance. It has all boiled down to life and death as my mother-in-law requires immediate treatment.
“I hope the Indian government gives priority to people on medical grounds in Australia and sends a repatriation flight in the next few days,” he added.
Prashant Pandey (L) with his wife and parents. Source: Supplied by Mr Pandey
'Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board repatriation flights'
Melbourne-based Prashant Pandey who has been representing the group of Indians stuck in Australia said while they still don’t know when an evacuation flight would be sent to Australia, he, however, is relieved that things have at least started moving.
“I just hope that Australia is on their priority list and people who are worst-affected, and suffering can get home safely at the earliest,” said Mr Pandey.
Laying down further guidelines for those who will be travelling in government’s repatriation flights, the Indian authorities stated all passengers will be subject to a pre-departure medical screening and only asymptomatic people will be allowed to board the flights.
"During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the health protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation," the government said.
Queenslanders are being urged to continue practicing social distancing as some coronavirus measures are rolled back. Source: AAP
They further declared that all the passengers will have to download the government’s "Aarogya Setu" mobile application.
“After scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned state government. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols," the government said.
Nipun Madan and his family who had arrived in Melbourne on a tourist visa, days ahead of the lockdown said the Indian government must also give priority to those stranded abroad on visitor visas.
Representational image. Source: Wikimedia/mitrebuad
“I have been holed up in this small apartment with my wife and kids since the past few weeks. We had to shift out of the hotel since it was turning out to be way too expensive,” said Mr Madan.
The 38-year-old businessman from New Delhi said he and his wife are under “mental stress” and all their hopes for rescue are now pinned on the government’s evacuation plans.
“I understand why the government would want to give priority to people who need medical attention. But I hope they would also consider the situation of all those like us who are stranded in foreign countries on tourist visas,” he added.
The state governments have also been advised to make necessary arrangements for screening, quarantine and domestic movement of the overseas arrivals.
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