New Delhi: Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa on Monday reached Colombo port in Sri Lanka to repatriate 700 Indian nationals stranded in the country due to coronavirus lockdown.
The Indian Navy has launched 2nd phase of Operation “Samudra Setu” as a part of the “Vande Bharat” mission on Monday.
“The vessel reached Colombo Port this morning and will depart with passengers to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. It will subsequently repatriate another 700 personnel from Male in the Maldives to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu,” an Indian Navy spokesperson said.
Catering to the present requirements of maintaining social distancing and health protocols the ship is divided specifically into three zones-- red, orange and green.
“High Commission & @indiannavy teams ready to assist the passengers. A big thank you to SriLankan authorities for their cooperation in #SamudraSetu #VandeBharatMission @MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @COVIDNewsByMIB @MFA_SriLanka #lka #SriLanka,” Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted on Monday.
Apart from adhering to social distancing, evacuees are subjected to the requisite medical screening and those asymptomatic have been allowed to embark.
Those being repatriated are provided with a new mask at the time of boarding followed by a new mask each day till they reach Tuticorin.
The Operation Samudra Setu under Vande Bharat Mission has so far facilitated over 1286 Indians from Male in Maldives during the operations between May 8-16.
