INS Jalashwa leaves Maldives with 698 Indians, including 19 pregnant women

Maldives, Ta. May 9, 2020, Saturday

With the repatriation of laborers stranded in other states in the country, the central government has started repatriating Indians stranded abroad and is preparing to bring in Indians by air and sea.

The Indians are being brought by sea from the Maldives under the 'Mission Sea Bridge' and the Indian Navy's warship INS Jalashwa has been dispatched with 698 Indians. About 5,000 Indians will be repatriated from the Maldives in the next few days under this mission.

The first voyage by sea for repatriation

In the first consignment under 'Mission Sea Bridge', a total of 698 Indians, including 19 pregnant women, will be unloaded from INS Jalashwa to Kochi, Kerala. A total of 698 Indians, including 595 men and 103 women, are on board, according to the Indian Navy.

4,500 Indians preparing to return home

The Maldives is home to a large number of Indians. The 200 islands spread over an area of ​​800 km in the Maldives are inhabited by Indians. Statistically, there are about 27,000 Indians living in the Maldives, of which 4,500 have expressed a desire to return home. There is also a full lockdown in Malલે, Maldives, and all people have been screened and tested before boarding.

Priority to senior citizens, those with family emergencies

According to a report, INS Jalashwa and INS Magar are planning to repatriate about two thousand Indians. Both warships are scheduled to sail twice for Kochi and Tuticorin. Among those being brought in from the Maldives are senior citizens, the unemployed, pregnant women, the sick and those with family emergencies.