Minister for Non-Resident Keralite Affairs K.C. Joseph on Wednesday said the government had urged the Centre to exert pressure on the Saudi administration for an extended clearance for Indian flights involved in the evacuation of Indians stranded in Yemen.
Mr. Joseph told reporters here that Saudi Arabia was giving short-term clearance for the flights sent to the region for airlifting Indians in Yemen. He said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy spoke to Minister for External Affairs Sushama Swaraj in the morning and urged her to exert pressure on the Saudi administration in this regard. The Chief Minister also called on Ms. Swaraj to send more aircraft and navy ships for evacuation of Indians.
The External Affairs Minister was also urged to direct the Indian Embassy in Yemen to intervene in cases of hospitals there withholding passports of Indians, the Minister said. It was also demanded that Indians without passports and other documents should be given exit passes.
The flight operation for airlifting Indians in Yemen started from the airport in Sana’a on Wednesday following Saudi Arabia’s clearance, the Minister said and added that a ship with 350-odd Indians had reached Djibouti.
Mr. Joseph said it was also demanded that the flights involved in the evacuation operation should be extended to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram on their return journey as 75 per cent of those working in Yemen were Keralites.
Flight to State
In response to this request, the first evacuation flight to the State would land at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, he said. Arrangements were made by NoRKA to ensure transportation of the evacuees to their residence. A purse of Rs.2,000 would be given to each evacuee. Those reaching New Delhi and Mumbai would be offered accommodation at the Kerala House, he said.
The Minister said the government was in close contact with the Centre for the safe evacuation of Indians, including Keralites.
First batch
IANS adds: The first batch of 175 Indians, 135 from Kerala and 40 from Tamil Nadu, will land at the Cochin airport after midnight, Mr. Joseph said.
“Information that we are now getting is limited from Yemen. What we are told is that this is the first batch and they are those people from Yemen who travelled to Djibouti by ship and from there they were put on a flight to Kochi,” said Mr. Joseph.
The flight left after 8 p.m. Indian time, he said.
“The Kerala government has made all arrangements to receive them and the Ernakulam District Collector is coordinating the entire programme,” he said.
“All those who arrive here will be dropped free at their homes by buses of the State transport corporation. Those in Tamil Nadu will also be given transport facility.
He said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was at present in Dubai, was in constant touch with the External Affairs Ministry, coordinating the evacuation of Indians, especially Keralites.
Saudi Arabia giving short-term clearance for flights to airlift Indians
