On 5th of May 2020, Indian Navy had launched its Operation 'Samudra Setu' – meaning 'Sea Bridge', as a part of national effort to repatriate stranded Indian citizens from overseas.
With this evacuation, the Indian Navy has now repatriated 2874 Indian nationals from the Maldives and Sri Lanka during the ongoing pandemic.
With this trip, Jalashwa will successfully bring back almost 2700 Indian citizens from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to Indian shores under the broader umbrella of the Indian Government's Mission Vande Bharat.
Indian Navy has already repatriated 1,488 Indian nationals from Malè to Kochi during the previous phase of operations.
This operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministry of Defence, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the Government of India and State governments.
The High Commission of India in the Maldives said in a statement that the Indian nationals were charged USD 40 as the evacuation service charge.
