Highlights
- Seven special Air India flights will repatriate Indians stranded in Australia due to the pandemic
- The flights will operate from Sydney and Melbourne starting from May 21
- Shortlisted passengers who are asymptomatic will be allowed to board
The Indian High Commission in Canberra has announced that the first phase of repatriation for Indian nationals stuck in Australia will begin from May 21st and last till May 28th.
Indian nationals who have registered with the overseas missions and posts in Australia will be ferried through seven special Air India flights as part of the Indian government’s ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, a massive evacuation process that has been launched to facilitate the return of Indians stranded abroad.
Here’s a list of flights in phase 1 of repatriation:
Outlining the travelling conditions in a post on Twitter, the High Commission said shortlisted passengers “with the most compelling cases” will be given priority to book tickets for the limited seats available on these flights.
A snapshot of flight details Source: Twitter/ Indian High Commission
“The High Commission will intimate by email the shortlisted passengers for the above flights. If the shortlisted passenger wishes to proceed further, they may immediately contact Air India (Australia),” the High Commission said in a statement released a short while ago.
Who can book these flights?
The High Commission also clarified that the cost of these flights will be borne by the passengers and those who fail to purchase a ticket within 24 hours of being notified stand to lose their chance to travel. The seat will then be allotted to the next waitlisted passenger.
The guidelines further reveal that all passengers would have to undergo medical screening at the time of boarding the flight and only asymptomatic travellers would be given the go-ahead to travel.
In addition, travellers have also been mandated to sign and submit an “undertaking cum identity bond” before boarding, confirming their readiness to follow instructions of the relevant authorities and their consent to be repatriated.
Melbourne-based Prashant Pandey who has been representing the group of Indians stuck in Australia says days’ worth of deliberations with the authorities have finally borne fruit.
All passengers are required to fill this bond before boarding the flight. Source: Twitter/ Indian High Commission
“Indeed, very good news for all of us stuck here. I am happy that people will be able to reach their homes safely,” said Mr Pandey.
His said his next focus will be to help those most vulnerable to navigate through the booking process.
Prashant Pandey (L) with his wife and parents. Source: Supplied by Mr Pandey
“As of now, we do not have any details about the ticket prices. I am sure the shortlisted passengers will be informed soon,” he added.
Former international student Karan Singh Panwar who claims his entire life had been upended by the pandemic, his biggest concern is if his name would appear in the list of passengers who’d be allowed to board one of these seven flights.
“I am relieved that the process has finally begun. But I am also aware that there will be thousands of people looking to go back home and now I am concerned if my name would be on the list or not,” said Mr Panwar.
He added that he has a “big bag of feelings as of now.”
But not everyone is happy with the news.
Indian-origin single mum Meenakshi Sharma who holds an Australian passport has been told she wouldn’t be allowed to travel on any of these special flights, as per the renewed travel restrictions issued by India’s External Affairs Ministry.
The 28-year-old has been pleading for help from the Indian government to be allowed to travel on compelling grounds so she could be reunited with her child who is now in the care of his grandmother in India.
Meenakshi Sharma with her child. Source: Supplied
Responding to her request, the High Commission said they have noted down her details and she would be notified in case any possibility arises to allow OCI cardholders to travel on these repatriation flights.
But as of now, Ms Sharma’s chances look bleak.
A snapshot of the High Commission's response to Ms Sharma. Source: Supplied
“I have a compelling case. How can they not allow me? I am a mother who has been separated from my child. And I hope someone somewhere will listen to my requests and come to my rescue,” said Ms Sharma.
According to the regulations, foreign nationals or OCI cardholders will not be allowed to enter the country until the resumption of international flights.
While the order mentions a provision for an exemption to OCI cardholders who want to travel for “compelling reasons”, it has been left to the discretion of the authorities to make those decisions on a case-by-case basis.
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