Indian ship on repatriation operation enters Male’ port

The Indian Embassy, on Thursday, announced that the first of the Indian navy ships dispatched to repatriate Indian nationals in Maldives had entered the Male’ port.

INS Jalashwa entered the Male’ port on Thursday morning.

It is the first phase of Indian navy’s ‘Operation Samundra Setu’ to repatriate Indian nationals overseas who wish to return home. The Indian navy reported earlier this week that two ships had been dispatched to Maldives – INS Jalashwa and INS Magar.

200 Indian nationals in Maldives are scheduled to return to India under phase one of the operation.

Deputy High Commissioner Shri Rohit Rathish told Sun in an earlier interview that India would prioritize repatriating those registered with the High Commission on compelling grounds such as preexisting medical condition, pregnancy, elderly, death in family, stranded tourists, workers who have lost their jobs and destitute cases.

Maldives is hosting some 27,000 Indian nationals, noted the deputy high commissioner.

Those repatriated from Maldives will be first taken to Kochi, where they will undergo 14-day quarantine before being allowed to go to their respective destinations.

617 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, including 54 Indian nationals.