Pune: 143 Afghan nationals board special flight to Kabul, 9 Indians arrive
Pune, May 17, 2020: A total of 143 Afghanistan citizens stranded in Pune boarded a special flight to Kabul from Pune international airport today. Nine Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan also returned from the same flight. A special flight of Kam Air was organised by the government of Afghanistan to take back their citizens stranded here. The Afghans paid for the tickets.
Most of these students included cadets from National Defence Academy (NDA), officers who had come for a short course at Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) while some officers were also included who had come for an exchange program. Apart from this some students studying at Pune colleges such as Symbiosis International College and Ferguson College, and some other places also went back.
All were screened for COVID symptoms before check-in. “Today Pune Customs successfully facilitated the arrival of 9 Indian nationals from Afghanistan and departure of 143 Afghanistan nationals stranded in here due to COVID19. Departing Afghan nationals are mostly defence personnel and students who came to Pune Airport from Pune, Goa, Panchamarghi, Bangalore”, said Vaishali Patange, Joint Commissioner of Pune Customs.
According to airport officials, the flight landed at 12:40 pm and departed at 1.30 pm. Out of the 9 arriving Indian passengers, 8 were sent to their respective places to be quarantined there. One passenger having cough history has been sent for taking COVID swab test.
Pune Airport Director Kuldeep Singh said, “Total 147 passengers came for departure, out of which four were sent back as flight capacity is of 143 passengers only. No departing passenger found with any symptom of COVID19. Customs, Airport Authority of India, Immigration, CISF and Pune District administration coordinated to facilitate the movement. The District administration has arranged for transport of these passengers. All the agencies including Customs followed COVID19 standard operating procedure (SOP) including use of PPE, maintaining social distancing, use of hand sanitizer and wearing a mask.”
