18 of 283 stranded Karnataka residents return from West Asia
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Tuesday said 18 of the 283 people from Karnataka stranded in conflict-hit West Asian countries returned home on Tuesday morning.
Details of all those people from the state stranded in the Gulf region have been forwarded to the MEA and Karnataka Bhavan for necessary coordination and assistance, they said.
"As of 10 am on March 3, details of 283 stranded people from Karnataka received at SEOC (State Emergency Operations Centre) and DEOC (District Emergency Operations Centre), and they were forwarded to MEA and Karnataka Bhavan. Out of which, 18 have returned this morning, some are in transit," the office of Munish Moudgil, Relief Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department said in a statement.
As per the calls received at the SEOC and various DEOCs, 265 people from Karnataka (excluding returnees) are stranded at the conflict-hit regions of the West Asian countries.
Of these, 198 people from Karnataka are stranded in the UAE, 31 people in Bahrain, 14 in Qatar, 13 in Kuwait, four in Saudi Arabia, four in Iran and one in Turkey.
Meanwhile, as many as 42 flights were cancelled at the Kempegowda International Airport here till 3 pm on Tuesday due to prevailing airspace restrictions, airport authorities said.
A total of 21 arrivals and 21 departures were affected, disrupting services on key international sectors including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai and Doha, they said.
According to the official statement, flight operations have partially resumed from the UAE and other West Asian countries.
Passengers should check flight status with their airlines before going to the airport and rely only on official sources for updates. Passengers can reach out to the AirSewa portal (https://airsewa.gov.in/#/home) or call the MOCA helpline number 011-24604283/011-24632987 for information on flight status, it said.
The SEOC and DEOCs are regularly updating advisories issued by the MEA and Indian Embassies/Consulates in the affected countries.
The Karnataka Resident Commissioner has also activated the Karnataka Bhavan team in New Delhi for coordination, they said.
The state government has urged people from Karnataka residing in the affected West Asian countries to strictly adhere to the guidelines and advisories issued by the local governments.
They have been advised to contact the respective Indian Embassies/Consulates through helpline numbers and register on the Sarthi Sahayata portal and other official portals of the concerned Embassies/Consulates. Further, for transit visa-related matters, it is requested to contact the nearest FRRO, the statement added.
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Airlines to operate 48 flights per hour, says UAE Min.; Here’s what you need to know ?
Abu Dhabi: UAE’s Minister for Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has announced that the UAE has opened safe air corridors in coordination with gulf countries, Gulf News reported.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri also stated that at present the handling capacity is 48 flights per hour.
“The capacity as of today, based on the emergency routes available, is 48 flights per hour with a possibility of increasing this figure at a later stage, according to the latest development and security ratings and measures,” the UAE based English daily quoted the Minister as saying.
The Minister furthermore stated that from March 1 to March 3, a total of 17,498 passengers travelled on 60 flights. In the next phase, 80 flights are scheduled with national carriers, totalling 27,000 passengers. He said the following phases would be launched based on how the security situation evolves and when conditions are deemed safe.
However, regular commercial operations of Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia are yet to resume. flydubai has begun limited operations.
Speaking on the reopening of airspace, the Minister clarified that the General Civil Aviation Authority is conducting ongoing coordination and monitoring with partners to assess developments and enable a gradual and safe return of air navigation in the country’s airspace.
As part of the response, limited operational flights have begun to facilitate the return of citizens and residents.
He said, “Airspace safety and human safety will always remain our first priority.”
The Minister urged affected passengers not to proceed to airports unless contacted directly by their airlines, in order to avoid congestion and ensure the smooth flow of travellers during this phase.
UAE airports and national carriers, including Etihad, Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia, have instructed passengers not to travel to the airport unless they have received a call from the airline asking them to do so.
According to the newspaper, all airlines have resumed limited operations, with priority being given to stranded passengers. In the meantime, the Minister said the government has agreed to cover expenses for stranded tourists' stay and food.
He said, “the UAE economy has proven its resilience in absorbing pressures generated by geopolitical and regional challenges,” and reaffirmed that economic stability remains firmly intact.
On the safe air corridors, the Minister said they were established in coordination with neighbouring countries and Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as with the International Civil Aviation Organization, activating approved regional emergency aviation plans.
He explained that the current emergency routing capacity allows for 48 flights per hour, with the possibility of gradually increasing that number in line with developments and safety assessments.
The Minister also said that the UAE economy has demonstrated strong resilience and maintained stability with high efficiency despite geopolitical and regional pressures.
He said the country adopted proactive and flexible strategies that strengthened the economy and enhanced its ability to absorb external shocks, including previous crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and other regional and international challenges.
