Indians professionals, mariners stranded in South Korea return in special flight

NEW DELHI: A flight load of Indian nationals including mariners stranded in South Korea for over two months landed in New Delhi on Sunday under Vande Bharat Mission, the biggest ever repatriation exercise by the Indian government to rescue its citizens from world over.

A team of Indian embassy staffers in Korea led by Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan reached the Incheon airport to bid farewell to the Indian nationals. The ambassador interacted with them and wished them good luck and safe stay in India before the flight could take off.

“Home is where the heart is. A sentiment shared by all Indians on the Vande Bharat flight from Incheon to Delhi today. Excellent coordination by the Embassy of India, Air India, and community leaders made this possible. Jai Hind!” read the officials’ Facebook page of the Indian embassy.

However, despite the criteria of the middle seat of the aircraft keeping vacant didn’t apply on this flight, still many Indian professionals continue to be stranded in South Korea and they are demanding more flights from India.

On June 3, the Indian embassy had said, “Embassy has been coordinating with community leaders and Air India to bring stranded Indians back on the Vande Bharat Incheon-Delhi flight on June 7. Due to High Court orders, middle seats are being kept vacant to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The number of passengers who can travel on this flight is therefore reduced and Air India will contact each of them. We are trying to arrange a second flight as soon as possible for those who cannot be accommodated on this flight.”

Relatives of the Indians stranded in South Korea, as well as those left from boarding the only flight to India, have urged the Indian government authorities and the Embassy officials to arrange for at least two more flights as there are almost 500 more Indians stuck in there.

An Indian national Writam Banerjee wrote in his Facebook response, “It was a great initiative. However, many families have traveled with this flight. As a result, many students and professionals are left behind. It is a request from all the fellow members who are still unable to avail of the flight to South Korea, please arrange two more flights. Every student and professional must save their positions.”

Abhishek Singh wrote, “Please start more flights from Delhi to Korea…more than 500 people stuck in India but no response from government side…”

On Saturday, June 6 too an Air India flight operated from Delhi to South Korea for Indians either living or working in Korea as they too were stranded in India since the lockdown was announced and visas were suspended followed by cancellation of scheduled international flights.

Also read: Stranded in South Korea, over two hundred Indians including mariners await return to their homeland