INS Jalshwa's Trip 2 to India gets back 588 Indian citizens from Maldives

Kochi, May 18: In yet another repatriation of stranded Indians, Indian Navy's amphibious warship INS Jalashwa came back with 588 Indian citizens from Male, the Maldives concluding its second voyage. This repatriation as part of 'Operation Samudra Setu' was the Indian Navy’s second massive evacuation exercise from Male during the lockdown.

 

 

The ship reached Kochi with citizens including 70 women (06 expectant mothers) and 21 children at the Samudrika Cruise Terminal, of Cochin Port Trust. The citizens were received by the personnel from the Indian Navy, State Government, District Administration, and Port Trust. All the arrangements were made by the personnel including checking their medical conditions and transportation.

 

 

"Extensive arrangements were also made by the Port authorities for streamlining the process of COVID screening and immigration procedures as also by the civil administration for transportation for the evacuated Indian nationals to respective districts/States for further quarantining," the statement read.

 

This ship had begun its journey at Male on 15 May 20 as part of the Indian Government's national efforts to facilitate the return of Indian citizens from foreign shores. The ship's scheduled departure on 15 May was delayed due to inclement weather, accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds and the ship had departed Male on 16 May 20.

 

Earlier, last week, the Indian Navy's amphibious warship INS Jalashwa, carried 698 Indian nationals stranded in the Maldives had arrived at Kochi.

 

INS Jalashwa, based at Visakhapatnam has been at the forefront of similar evacuation efforts of Indian nationals and major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts of the Indian Navy. The ship is designed to carry troops and the facilities onboard were modified for the ongoing evacuation. She is manned by trained medical teams of the Indian Navy, specifically embarked on the ongoing Operation.