ERNAKULAM: Two flights have left for UAE to bring back the Indians stranded abroad. The first flight departed from Nedumbassery International Airport and the second from Karipur Airport.

Air India Express which took off from Nedumbassery at 12.30 pm will return with the first team of expatriates at 9.40 pm. The flight will carry 177 passengers. The second flight from Karipur took off at 1.40 pm. After reaching Dubai, they will return at 5.30 pm. The flight from Karipur was delayed by an hour. It is expected to reach Karipur by 11 pm.

The naval ship to bring back the expatriates from Maldives has reached the island. Navy’s INS Jalashwa entered Male port in Maldives Thursday morning for evacuating Indians as part of Samudra Setu programme. The ship will leave for Kochi on Friday carrying nearly 1000 stranded Indians in Maldives due to lockdown imposed to contain the deadly virus.

The Indian navy has been tasked to evacuate stranded Indians from Maldives as part of phase one commencing May 8.