Gulf Air Repatriates 125 Stranded Bahrainis From India
A total of 125 Bahraini nationals stranded in India due to the nation-wide lockdown there were finally flown out of the country today.
Gulf Air flight number GF7753 carried citizens who were residing in different parts of India. They were brought together at Pune International Airport, from where they returned to the Kingdom via Chennai.
The flight is scheduled to arrive at 9.05pm last night but has been delayed. it is a part of Bahrain’s efforts to repatriate its citizens stranded abroad in light of the global outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“We had a list of all the Bahraini citizens who were staying in various parts of the country; some were tourists, some seeking medical services, and most of the nationals were students,” Al Noaimi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Al Noaimi also revealed that one Bahraini national from Pune developed a high fever and was advised to rest and could not board the flight. It is understood that he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Bahrain Consul General in Mumbai Ali Al Balooshi was in Pune to see to the safe travel of the Bahraini nationals.
According to the report, the Bahrainis not located in Pune had arrived there three days prior and were staying at Hotel Taj Blue Diamond, where they were waiting for today’s flight.
Meanwhile, Pune airport director Kuldeep Singh noted that all precautionary arrangements had been made to ensure the safe travel of the Bahraini passengers.
“All arrangements were made for thermal screening at departure entry: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) [wore] protective gear; immigration, customs, tea-coffee snacks counter, sanitisation machine at entry gate; frequent cleaning/sanitisation of the washrooms; markings for physical separation on the floor and on chairs.
“We opened only limited areas for the passengers’ movement to ensure focused cleaning.
