Vande Bharat Mission : Top Civilian Evacuations
Source : The Hindu
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

Vande Bharat Mission (VBM), which started evacuating Indians stranded abroad due to COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns since May 7 last, has turned out to be one of the largest evacuations of civilians by a country.

Key Facts

• During the Phase 10 the VBM has evacuated Eighteen lakh of Indians from abroad.
  • Thus it supassed 1,10,000 people in 1990 at the onset of the Gulf War.
• Till now, the Air India (AI) Group has operated 11,523 inbound flights to carry 18,19,734 passengers and 11,528 outbound flights and 13,68, 457 passengers.
• National carrier Air India, which carried out the bulk of air transfers under the mission, was supported by its budget carrier Air India Express.
• VBM Evacuation
  • First phase of the VBM, which lasted 11 days from May 7 to 17
    • Aimed at destinations with high concentration of Indians.
    • As many as 64 inbound and outbound flights each were operated by the AI group to carry 12,708 and 3,562 passengers respectively.
  • The lengthiest was VBM VI and VII lasting 61 days each.
• The current VBM Phase 10 has international and domestic schedules operating till October 31.
  • Of these, 373 are international flights from the country and another 376 are flights from abroad.
• Air travel arrangements temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the pandemic, are in place.

Operation Samudra Setu

• Indian Navy has launched Operation “Samudra Setu” to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas.
• Naval ships Jalashwa and Magar are enroute to the port of Male to evacuate people from May 8.
• Only those who test Covid-19 negative would be allowed to travel.
• This operation is being being coordinated between the
  • Ministries of Defence, External Affairs
  • Home Affairs
  • Ministry of Health
  • various other agencies of the Government of India
  • Agencies under the State governments.

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