KSA: ‘Expertise’ seeks PM Modi’s permission to fly back India expats on chartered flights
Saudi Arabia based leading company, Expertise Contracting Co. which mainly has workforce that belongs to Karnataka has sought permission from PM Narendra Modi to land chartered flights at Bengaluru/Mangaluru International Airports. The company said it will carry Indian expatriates working for the company who are stranded in Saudi Arabia on chartered flights. It added that at least 500 of its workmen are stranded in the Kingdom due to the lockdown and suspension of flights between the two countries amidst growing number of cases of Corona Virus.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Joint Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the company has added that the it is looking forward to send 500 of its employees back to the country adding that at least 250 of them need to visit India on emergencies on various grounds viz., to get medical assistance for protracted illness like diabetes, hypertension etc.; to attend to ailing parents/ family members on emergency; to attend to pressing legal matters etc.
It also added that another 250 people who according to the company’s norms were to be demobilized by the end of April month were also stranded in the kingdom.
“Due to our nature of business we need to hire workers on short term visit visas as well, during the early part of each year mainly from India. We usually demobilize them by the month of April every year since after April the summer months set in and business becomes dull. So keeping these workmen further does not work out to be economical at all.
“We wish to bring to your attention that because of the ongoing flight disruption between the two nation’s viz., India and Saudi Arabia that commenced suddenly due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have not been able to demobilize our workmen on visit visas. They are nearly 250 in numbers” the letter added.
The letter further confirmed that the Saudi government had assured assistance to the company by providing charter flights and that it would require permission from the Indian government to land these flights at Bengaluru/Mangaluru Airports.
The letter assured the Indian authorities that the company will ensure that all workmen will carry with them Health Certificates from authorized medical centres that would testify them as COVID-19 negative, adding that the certificates shall be generated not earlier than 48 hours before the date of boarding. It also added that all workmen shall wear gloves, masks and shall carry hand sanitizers while travelling.
The company also assured that the workmen will be quarantined by them in India as per the Indian government norms in areas that shall be identified beforehand and that the company will bear necessary expenses.
“We sincerely request you to look into this and grant the necessary permission at the earliest since most of these workmen are getting jittery day by day and situation is likely to get out of control very soon. We look forward to receiving your favorable response on above at the earliest. Undersigned will be the focal point for further communication on this” the letter added.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
