Sri Lankan Airlines operate three rescue flights from India

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Sri Lankan Airlines have decided to operate three rescue flights from two Indian cities in order to bring stranded citizens back to their homeland. On Thursday and Friday, respectively one flight from Amritsar and two flights from Coimbatore will depart for Colombo. India has presently banned all international flights for an indefinite period of time leading to many countries arranging rescue flights from India.

The Sri Lankan rescue flights will bring back two students currently studying in India. Nearly 200,000 Sri Lankans reside in India at present and the rescue flights will be essential to the many citizens stuck in India. Sri Lankan Airlines is already experienced in regularly flying to the two Indian cities even before the COVID-19 crisis. This would make the operations slightly easier.

Sri Lanka is one of many countries that are flying rescue flights from India. Since the flight ban was imposed numerous rescue flight operations have taken place, with more to be organised in the coming weeks. Sri Lanka’s rescue efforts will provide relief to the thousands of citizens stranded in India. The one flight from Amritsar and two from Coimbatore will operate today and tomorrow respectively and those aboard these flights can expect extensive medical screening, and possible quarantine, once they reach Colombo.

Since the lockdown, nearly 40,000 people have been flown back from India on various repatriation flights. The coming weeks and months will see more of these flights, as the number of cases in India continues to rise. People stranded abroad or outside their home countries can contact embassies for details regarding rescue flight and other necessary assistance.

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