More than 350 Indians from UAE will be flying back home today as India starts one of the world’s biggest repatriation of stranded citizens abroad, in the light of the coronavirus epidemic affecting the world.

Priority has been given  to workers in distress, elderly people, urgent medical cases, pregnant women and others stranded in difficult situation.

At least three Indians who were stuck in transit at the Dubai airport will also be going back.

19 people had been stranded in transit at the Dubai airport after the sudden lockdown had been announced by various countries.

More than 50 percent of those going back are distressed blue collar workers.

Others include, elderly people, pregnant women and their support givers, students and some who were on a visit visa.

There are two flights which are scheduled from UAE today. One is from Abu Dhabi to Kochi and the other is from Dubai to Kozhikode.

Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai will follow strict health protocols before the shortlisted passengers are allowed to board the flight for India.

Health screening of those passengers who have been shortlisted is a must at the departure terminal of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports.

The health screening will be done by the UAE Health authorities and only those who are found asymptomatic will be allowed to proceed.

A press statement by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi earlier said that all passengers will be required to sign an undertaking to undergo compulsory quarantine at the destination of arrival and bear the cost of the same.

Each passenger, at the time of boarding would be handed over a safety kit containing 2 three-layered face masks, 2 pairs of gloves and pouches/small bottles of hand sanitizers.

Meanwhile, the flight from Riyadh to Kozhikode which was scheduled to take off on 7th May has been extended by a day. It will now be taking off on the 8th.

This was confirmed by Ambassador Dr Ausaf Sayeed to AIR.

Ambassador Sayeed said that five flights from Saudi Arabia to India have been scheduled over the next one week.

Each of these flights will carry back 155 passengers.

Around 50 per cent of these are expected to be distressed workers, stranded Umrah pilgrims, medical emergencies, pregnant women and other compelling cases.

The flight from Doha to Kochi has also been rescheduled and will now take off on the 9th of May.