Over 2000 German citizens evacuated from India

Around 600 German tourists who were stranded in Goa have been air lifted thanks to the special arrangements made Air India and the German Embassy in India.

The German evacuation operations spread across several cities and states saw over 2100 German and European countries flying out from India during the last few days, German authorities said.

“With so far 7 evac flights we brought home 2100 stranded travelers from Delhi & other Indian cities to GER. Working 24/7 with IND authorities in Delhi & States & AI to bring home more. Currently airborne: our 8th evac with 315 people (2nd ex Goa). Check your mails if registered!,” tweeted @AmbLindnerIndia, Walter J. Lindner, German Ambassador to India.

Besides Goa, the German embassy in India was able to get its national from several places like Rishikesh and Jaipur and put them to flights heading to Germany from Delhi.

A day earlier Linder tweeted: “Another 1100 stranded travellers (GER & appr 10% EU) on way to Frankfurt from various IND cities on special repat flights chartered by GER Gov. Thanks for very close coop Air India & IND Gov (esp MEA). Registred GER travellers: please check emails constantly for more evac flights.”

Among the many passengers stranded in Goa was a German-born girl of Goan lineage, who was a brief holiday in the coastal resort state, and who took the Tuesday early morning flight to Frankfrut.

“The parents were anxious when the news of the first lockdown came from India and they got more worried when the lockdown was extended. Their concerns grew with the Indian government banning all flights originating from India,” said Trevor Antao, whose friend’s daughter was one of the lucky ones to board the flight from Candolim.

The German embassy arranged buses from all over Goa and the tourists were picked up from the designated meeting points and were house at the Verna evacuation camp.

“The parents are happy and relaxed to see her back,” added Candolim –based former Sesa Goa SC footballer Trevor.

The German nationals were thankful to the Goa Chief Minister of Goa, for the swift action and permissions granted to allow the German and other Europeans to travel to Goa airport from their current location and Lufthansa planes and affiliated companies to receive permission to land in Goa.

The tourists were allowed to board the planes, regardless whether they have previously arrived in India by scheduled or chartered flights.

Those passengers with temperature over 37.3° were not allowed to board the flights.

One German Tome Heine, from Munich Germany, who was based in Arambol was critical of the arrangements made as no social distancing was maintained during the evacuation by the embassy people.

“Absolute madness. No Indian would dare right now. But Germans don't care, like at.all...,” he said.

The first flight with German passengers took off on 31^st March from Dabolim airport with the last of the scheduled flights taking off on Thursday morning.

A few German nationals from Kerala were also able to return to their home country.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan @vijayanpinarayi took to tweeter to say : “232 German and other EU nationals were able to return to their homeland from Kerala. We are happy to learn that they have reached safely. We hope that, once this ordeal is finished, they will visit our State again. Danke”.

Meanwhile, there is a possibility of more flights taking off from Goa with German depending on how many are left behind,” said one German.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, with an aim to extend support to the foreign tourists who are stranded in our country because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has set up a portal to disseminate information regarding the services that can be availed by them.

The portal is titled ‘Stranded in India’ strandedinindia.com and it is also hosted on Incredible India website incredibleindia.org.

The portal will help tourists get information/details of State Tourism departments and Regional offices of Ministry of tourism to help you to stay safe and healthy while in India.

It will also has information on ways of getting back to your home country.

In Goa, the State Executive Committee (SEC has appointed Superintendent of Police, FRRO Shri Bosco George frrogoa@nic.in as Nodal Officer for all foreigners related matters such as evacuation, movement or otherwise.