Pregnant women to be given priority on flights to India
dubai — More pregnant women will be accommodated on India’s special repatriation flights from Dubai, Indian Consul-General Vipul has said.
“There is a lot of pressure from pregnant women from Kerala. And the number is quite big. We are trying to accommodate as many as possible on the next flights,” Vipul told Khaleej Times on Wednesday.
At least 6,500 pregnant women in the UAE, mostly from the south Indian state of Kerala, have registered their interest to return home. They had requested to give them priority, saying that they do not have medical insurance and won’t be able to afford delivering their babies in the UAE.
Most of them are also willing to risk travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
Vipul said the consulate is trying to accommodate those who are more than 32 weeks into their pregnancy. “These are the most urgent cases.”
Medical certificates
However, owing to the huge demand for seats, the consul-general said they are planning to make medical certificates mandatory.
“We cannot verify each request that comes to us claiming that someone is 32 or 34 weeks pregnant. So, in order to make sure that the most deserving cases are chosen, we are going to ask for medical certificates stating the duration of their pregnancy.”
Vipul appealed to all community members not to take advantage of the repatriation flights that are meant for emergency cases and people in dire situations.
“It is everyone’s responsibility. When people submit requests citing emergency, we have no choice but trust them. If we make submission of supportive documents compulsory, it will become a tedious and time-consuming process.”
Vipul said he is hoping the pressure will be eased as more flights are set to operate to more destinations in the second phase of the Vande Bharat Mission.
“Slowly, we will be able to get flights to almost every airport and every state, and people will be able to go back.”
On Wednesday, two flights departed from Dubai carrying more than 360 passengers. The first flight to Delhi, AI916, took off with 245 passengers. The flight IX142 to Amritsar in Punjab had 177 passengers, taking off at 4pm.
The special flights also carry mortal remains, with the Delhi and Amritsar-bound planes flying with three bodies each on Wednesday.
In order to make sure that the most deserving cases are chosen, we are going to ask for medical certificates stating the duration of their pregnancy.” Vipul,
Consul-General of India to Dubai