Delhi to operate special flights to bring back Indians from Qatar
new delhi — The Qatar crisis seems to have sent alarm bells ringing in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, headed by Sushma Swaraj, one of the most proactive foreign ministers India has had in terms of helping stranded Indians abroad.
Recently she said that her ministry would come to the rescue of Indians even if they are lost on Mars. In keeping with this intent, New Delhi is maintaining a close watch on the situation in Qatar, and all set to operate special flights for those who want to return.
There are 700,000 Indians living in Qatar, and most of them happen to be Keralites.
Because of the political and logistical isolation Qatar faces, there are fears that the county may run short of essential supplies like food and other daily consumables.
The MEA has already issued instructions to the Aviation Ministry to be on guard. A tentative schedule has been worked out so that Air India Express will operate special flights between Kerala and Doha from June 25 to July 8.
The airline will use 186-seater Boeing 737 for the operation. Jet Airways too will operate extra flights between Mumbai and Doha on Thursday and Friday of the action-weeks using its 168-seater B-737.
On Monday, Sushma Swaraj had spoken with aviation minister A G Raju and worked out an understanding to operate additional flights “to Doha for Indian nationals who were not able to get bookings but needed to reach the country back from Doha.”
The aviation ministry has assured the MEA “that all steps necessary for timely movement of Indian nationals from Qatar shall be ensured.”
While there is no clear estimate on how many of the 700,000 Indians would want to return, the ministries concerned are working on the worst scenario possible.
Though, the Indian government has been assured that the interests of the Indian expats would be taken care of, an MEA official said: “We just don’t know how the scene will unfold; best to be prepared for the worst.”