India begins to bring home thousands of nationals left stranded by COVID-19

India begins to bring home thousands of nationals left stranded by COVID-19

The Indian government has begun plans to fly home thousands of nationals left stranded in various countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Footage shows over 350 nationals returning to Chennai International Airport after being stranded in the United Arab Emirates.

All the passengers were tested for the virus and have been placed under quarantine.

The government is facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner.

These special flights are operated by Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express to repatriate Indians from 12 countries - the UAE, the UK, the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

The government is also deploying a raft of Indian naval ships to undertake the massive exercise.

A total of 14 warships have been readied for evacuating Indian citizens from Gulf and other countries amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the biggest-ever repatriation operation anywhere in the world at any time.