Stuck in Japan, Indian professionals want to return using flights being run for Japanese evacuation from India

NEW DELHI/TOKYO: More than 100 young Indian professionals in Japan who are fast running out of resources have been making desperate but failed evacuation pleas to the Indian embassy in Tokyo, and the Indian government, including PMO.

Desperate to return to India and join their families here, these professionals have urged the Indian authorities to allow them to use the one-way flights being operated by Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) to evacuate Japanese nationals from India as these aircraft are flying out of Japan empty to take Japanese citizens from New Delhi.

After India announced to clamp nationwide lockdown starting from March 24 to April 14 as one of the many measures to check the spread of Novel Coronavirus on its soil, the operation of all international, as well as domestic flights, remains suspended for the said period.

The young professionals stuck in Japan are little over 100 in number, and they are out of employment, and nor have permanent arrangements for straying there. They are forced to live with temporary arrangements either at their workplaces or with friends.

Many have hired hotels but are soon about to run out of money to foot the bills. Their worry is they are running out of funds to sustain for more extended periods if the lockdown period gets extended in India beyond April 14, and international flights are not allowed to operate.

In their repeated pleas, these professionals have urged the Indian government through the Indian embassy in Tokyo and Consulate General of India in Osaka to allow them the flights being operated from Narita and Haneda airports to Delhi for bringing Japanese nationals as these flights are going to India empty because of the restriction on international flights landing in India, except for Japan.

Also read: Two Japanese airliners JAL, ANA get special permission to fly Japanese nationals from Delhi to Tokyo 

Indian aviation authorities had granted special permission to the Japanese government to allow two of its airlines to run one flight each from March 24 and March 30 each to evacuate Japanese nationals from India.

However, in a severe blow to the persistent pleas of Indian professionals, on Wednesday, Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian Ambassador in Tokyo, turned down their request advising them to exercise restraint and remain in Japan during the lockdown period till April 14.

Also read: Now, Koreans want special flights between India and South Korea, many want to go back

“I do understand the anxiety you might be having regarding the unfolding situation of COVID-19 and your urge to travel to India to be with your loved one.  However, in order to protect you and your loved ones in India, it is important that we follow the well-considered and globally appreciated policy of Government of Indian of not allowing any incoming passenger from abroad into India till our motherland is under lockdown till April 14,” said the Indian Ambassador in its letter issued today on April 1.