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London:
Many Indian college students who deliberate to journey again dwelling to be with their family and friends in India over the Christmas and New Year interval are amongst these caught up in Monday’s suspension of all flights to and from the UK because the world reacts to a brand new rapid-spreading pressure of coronavirus detected in elements of England.
While many college students would have made journey plans earlier in December after UK universities arrange assessments to go away the campus processes in place, there are some who’re booked on flights in what is without doubt one of the busiest journey intervals inside the UK-India sector.
While vacationer visas largely stay suspended, these within the UK for household causes are additionally amongst these caught out by the cancellation.
“Significant concern is being observed from Indian students both inbound and outbound,” stated Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK), a consultant group for Indian college students within the UK.
“Many students had planned to travel either back to India to be with their families over the holiday period or from India to the UK in order to start settling into the country ahead of the commencement of the January session. As we speak, there are many questions being raised around being stuck and confusion for instance around whether the PCR test detects the new strain of the virus,” she stated.
The Indian High Commission in London issued a number of messages on its social media platforms with updates from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in India.
“This suspension to start w.e.f. 23.59 hours, 22nd December 2020. Consequently flights from India to UK shall stand temporarily suspended during above said period,” it stated, in an announcement in response to a barrage of queries by travellers if inbound flights from India to the UK could also be allowed to land.
Air India, which has been working flights below the Vande Bharat mission to ferry passengers in the course of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown this yr, additionally confirmed speedy cancellations.
“In view of the Ministry of Civil Aviation directive of suspension of all flights to/from UK from 2359 hrs of 22nd December to 2359 hrs of 31st December, 2020, no Air India flight will operate to the UK during this period,” it stated.
Expatriates group within the UK urged for calm and suggested non-resident Indians (NRIs) and folks of Indian origin (PIOs) to observe the brand new lockdown guidelines, which imply a majority of the UK is below the strictest lockdown with all non-essential companies now closed.
“Due to a new mutant, coronavirus is moving fast and wide in the UK. I would like to request the Indian community not to take it lightly,” stated Kuldeep Shekhawat, President of the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) group.
“Please don’t panic. These are very difficult times and all possible precautions should be taken and all British government guidelines should be adhered to. The flight ban is in place just for your safety. Both the government are monitoring the situation very closely and fresh guidelines will be issued as the situation moves on,” he stated.
The UK Home Office has beforehand supplied coronavirus-related grace intervals for any visa expirations caught up because of the lockdown journey disruption.
“Throughout pandemic, we have introduced measures to help those who have been impacted by global travel and health restrictions, such as the relaxation of the rules on switching visas in country, enabling those who wish to stay in the UK to submit an application from within the UK,” a Home Office spokesperson stated.
“In August, we put an exceptional assurance process in place to protect the status of those who have leave expiring before January 31 and are unable to leave the UK,” the spokesperson stated.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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