Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 4: The Kannadigas who were stuck in Kuwait and were waiting to return home since long, have finally something to cheer about. Their tensions about getting COVID test done before taking the flight and travelling to Karnataka only if they have negative report, has been waived.
These people will be travelling to the city on Saturday evening by a chartered flight.
These passengers had made all the arrangements to reach Mangaluru on June 26 but at the last minute, the state government had not cleared the flight. About 164 people have done advance booking in this flight.
Representational image
With the efforts of former MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, and Kuwait-based engineer Manjeshwar Mohandas Kamath, the flight was rescheduled to July 4. But the last minute rule, making COVID test compulsory before boarding the flight, had given rise to panic as there is no system of coronavirus tests for passengers other than Kuwait Airways at Kuwait airport. Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association Karnataka wing and Akbar Travels, took up the issue with the embassy from where the state government was contacted. With the joint efforts of the concerned, the Kannadigas got the COVID test condition waived.
The flight with 164 passenger leaves Kuwait will reach Mangaluru at 8.55 pm on Saturday. The passengers will be subjected to institutional quarantine in the city.
Sources said that special flights under the central government's 'Vande Bharat' initiative will fly to Bengaluru from Kuwait on July 8, 11, and 18.