First evacuation flight from Bahrain to India takes off today
Putting an end to the anxious wait of the Indians stranded in Baharain, the first evacuation flight to India will take off on Friday carrying 177 passengers. It is scheduled to leave at 4.30 pm to Cochin international airport.
The passengers have been asked to assemble at the airport 4 hours before the flight, said Indian Embassy charge d’affairs Norbu Negi.
The second flight is scheduled to Kozhikode on Monday. All procedures for both sectors have been completed. There are 177 passengers on each flight. There is a facility for rapid testing at Bahrain airport. Thermal scanning will be done before passengers are allowed to board the flight, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of applications for evacuation is increasing day by day. Till Thursday 14,000 people have registered seeking repatriation, he added.
Everyone is demanding to fly the expats, who lost their jobs and depend on various organisations for food and accommodation, free of cost to India. They shouldn’t be exploited in this situation with high airfares. Many have demanded to the Centre that if Air India is not ready to fly them free of cost, other foreign airlines should be allowed for repatriation of Indians.
Thousands of expats have registered on NORKA website for evacuation. Around 25000 people from Bahrain alone want to return.
