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Operation Samudra Setu: Second naval ship sets sails for India

WION Web Team
KochiUpdated: May 09, 2020, 08:43 PM IST
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Photograph:(ANI)

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Western Fleet Ships mission deployed in the Indian Ocean Region has set sail on Saturday evening, and joined INS Jalashwa.

As a part of Indian government's biggest repatriation operation, Indian Navy has launched Operation "Samudra Setu"(Sea Bridge). The Navy will be bringing back thousands of stranded Indians from Maldives.

Western Fleet Ships mission deployed in the Indian Ocean Region has set sail on Saturday evening, and joined joined INS Jalashwa. INS Jalashwa set sail from Maldives on Friday bring with more than 700 passengers onboard. 

Also read: India fixes $40 per head for repatriation by sea from Male to Kochi

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"This operation is being carried out in close coordination with ministries of defence, external affairs, home affairs, health and various other agencies of the government of India and state governments," the Navy said in a statement.

This is Indian Navy's first big-scale repatriation operation during the pandemic.

As the officials gear up to welcome the stranded Indians back home, a top police officer assured that all arrangements were in place in the Kerala to accommodate and transport the returnees. All passengers will have to go through thermal scanning upon arrival on the port. They will laos be asked to sign a self-declaration form before disembarking the vessel.

The repatriated Indians comprise over 400 Keralites, around 180 people are from Tamil Nadu and the rest hail from Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, among other states.

The ship is expected to arrive at the Cruise Terminal of the Cochin Port Trust on Sunday between 9.30-10 am.

Upon returning, Keralities will be transported by KSRTC buses in small groups. The people from other states will be quarantined in Ernakulam for 14 days.