World News | Vande Bharat Flight with 217 Indians Departs from Auckland

Auckland [New Zealand], June 17 (ANI): A flight under Vande Bharat Mission departed from Auckland with 217 stranded Indians on Wednesday.

"The second flight of Air India took off from Auckland airport this morning carrying 217 stranded Indians from New Zealand, back home under Vande Bharat Mission," a tweet by the Indian High Commission in New Zealand read.

Also Read | Beijing Airports Cancel 1,255 Flights Over Coronavirus Fears: Live Breaking News Headlines & Coronavirus Updates, June 17, 2020.

The Vande Bharat Mission is the Government of India's initiative to bring back Indian nationals stranded in various parts of the world due to restrictions over air travel to contain COVID-19 spread.

A total of 1,65,375 people have returned, including 29,034 migrant workers under the Vande Bharat Mission, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on June 11.

Also Read | Rajasthan Reports 235 New COVID-19 Cases, State Tally Reaches 13,216: Live Breaking News Headlines & Coronavirus Updates, June 16, 2020.

The exercise began on May 7 and its second phase started on May 16. The third phase, which began on June 11, will continue till June 30. (ANI)

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