New Delhi: Indian Naval Ship Airavat entered the port of Male at Maldives on June 22 as part of the Indian Navy’s ongoing Op Samudra Setu, under the aegis of the Indian Government’s Op Vande Bharat to bring back Indian nationals from foreign shores.

A total of 198 Indian citizens embarked the ship as she prepared to bring them home to the port of Tuticorin in Tamilnadu in this, the fifth instance of a naval ship entering Male under Op Samudra Setu.

Till date the Indian Navy has brought home 2386 Indians from Maldives alone. 195 of those embarked belong to Tamilnadu while the remaining are from Pondicherry.

The embarkation was preceded by immigration formalities, medical screening and baggage disinfection following strictest protocols of social distancing and COVID -19 prevention measures in place. The ship has also demarcated specific zones onboard to ensure segregation of the evacuees from the ship’s crew.