NEW DELHI — Indian will launch the fourth phase of its biggest repatriation operation from July 3, media reports said late Thursday, citing a government official. Dubbed as "Vande Bharat Mission," the operation seeks to bring back citizens stranded abroad following the suspension of international flights due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. In the coming phase of the operation, the government will focus on bringing back Indians from the Gulf countries, Malaysia and Singapore, among others from where a large number have registered to return. "We are committed to bringing back our remaining compatriots, particularly in the GCC countries, Malaysia, Singapore, among other places," Anurag Srivastava, the spokesman of India's Ministry of External Affairs, said in a press briefing here. The operation, which is in its seventh week, has so far brought back 364,209 Indians from over 50 countries across 5 continents, he said. "Demand for these flights remains very high, especially in the Gulf region and, therefore, we are moving to further streamline the process," Srivastava added. Last week, Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Puri said nearly 1,050 flights will be planned in the fourth phase. Private Indian airlines will handle 750 of them and Air India the rest.
