Indian navy ship arrives in Male’ for phase two of repatriation operation

Indian navy ship INS Magar arrived in Male’ city on Sunday for the second phase of the operation to evacuate Indian nationals in Maldives.

The Indian navy launched the operation to evacuate Indian nationals stranded overseas, titled ‘Operation Samundra Setu’, last week.

750 Indian nationals were evacuated from Maldives during the first phase of the operation on Friday.

According to the Indian High Commission, INS Magar will leave Male’ carrying Indian nationals registered for the second phase of the evacuation operation this Sunday.

The passengers are in Velana International Airport to complete immigration formalities, upon conclusion of which they will travel back to Male’ to board INS Magar which is harbored at the Male’ port.

The exact number of Indian nationals scheduled to be evacuated has yet to be released.

According to the Indian High Commission, Maldives hosts some 27,000 Indian nationals. The High Commission has stated that it will India would prioritize evacuating those registered on compelling grounds such as preexisting medical condition, pregnancy, elderly, death in family, stranded tourists, workers who have lost their jobs and destitute cases.

790 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, including 62 Indian nationals.