Operation Samudra Setu: INS Jalashwa returns to Maldives for Phase 2

KOCHI: Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa, the repatriation ship deployed by the Indian Navy as part of it Operation Samudra Setu to evacuate Indian stranded abroad by sea, returned to port city of Male in Maldives to begin the second mission. The ship will enter Male port in the early hours of Friday and begin embarkation of Indian citizens who have already registered with the Indian Embassy in Maldives.
On the second trip, INS Jalashwa is planned to evacuate 700 Indian citizens and will depart for Kochi by Friday night. Earlier, after successfully bringing home 698 Indian nationals to Kochi on Tuesday, INS Jalashwa proceeded for preparatory activities towards Phase II of the evacuation operation which included disinfection and sanitization of the entire ship with special attention to the areas occupied by the previous set of repatriated citizens.
The ship will anchor off Male and will undertake embarkation of the second set of Indian nationals only after the health checks and emigration process are done at the Male Port. The evacuating passengers include around 100 women and children. The Indian nationals who have been manifested for evacuation will be screened medically, allotted IDs and their baggage sanitised before boarding the ship.