Yahya Hallare

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 13: The flight with 175 passengers along with nine infants took off from the Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 11:20 PM (UAE time) on Friday to reach Mangaluru International Airport at 4.20 am on Saturday June 13.

The chartered flight carried Kannadigas stranded in Dubai and UAE. Five buses had been arranged by Bhatkali Jamaatul Muslimeen, Mangaluru, to take them to Bhatkal. The entourage left Mangaluru in the morning after completing all the formalities.

Members of Majlis Isla Wa Tanzeem had come to Mangaluru to receive the passengers. Bhatkali Jamaatul Muslimeen, Mangaluru, had also made arrangements for the breakfast packs along with some literature from Iqra Arabic School, for the passengers.

Mangaluru airport

Ras Al Khaimah airport

For keeping the returnees in seven days quarantine, two hotels and a college hostel have been booked. They are Anjuman Hostel, Hotel Kola Paradise, and Hotel Nilavar Palace.

The passengers were received at the airport by Majlis E Islah wa Tanzeem executive members, Bhatkali Jamaat Ul Muslimeen executive members, and Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation executive members. All the buses were provided with police escort.

It is said that all the passengers have undergone thermal scanning and even COVID-19 testing before the departure at the Ras Al Khaimah airport. Considering all the necessary formalities, the passengers were asked to be present at the airport five hours before the time of departure. "While choosing the passengers, preference was given to pregnant women, aged people and citizens who had visited Dubai on 14-day visit visas and got stuck for over two months due to lockdown," Ateequr Rahman Muniri explained.

It shall be noted that all the passengers were taken to the airport five hours before departure by special buses. Over 25 additional people were also taken to the airport separately, to fill empty seats in case anyone from the selected passengers were denied permission to board the flight during thermal scanning and other processes.

Ateequr Rahman Muniri received appreciation from different sections of the society for his initiative of sending stranded citizens of Bhatkal and surrounding regions to back home from UAE. Speaking to the media, he said that as the news of chartered flight was published around 600 people had registered their names, among which only 175 people including 9 infants have been sent in the first flight. "After we came to know about the problems of the distressed people here, plans were made to charter more flights to ease their problems," he said. "I received huge support from the Bhatkal community leaders and youth here in Dubai, who gave their complete cooperation and helped with their efforts in successfully chartering the first flight," he added.

Many Bhatkal community leaders and youth were present at the Ras Al Khaimah airport in the form of volunteers, those supporting the pre-boarding process and also to bid farewell to the passengers.