178 Indians stranded in UAE fly home on Thumbay Group's chartered flight

Some 178 Kannadigas stranded in the UAE were recently flown home on the second chartered flight arranged by the Thumbay Group and the Bearys Cultural Forum (BCF) Trust in Mangalore, India.

On board the flight that took off from Ras Al Khaimah International Airport were passengers that included the elderly, pregnant women, kids and those in need of urgent medical attention because of chronic illnesses. Some also lost their jobs and were facing visa issues.

It was the second in the series of flights organised by the group, with the first one repatriating 186 on July 21. The next flight under the joint initiative is scheduled on August 10, and a few more is expected to follow in the coming weeks.

Implemented under the leadership of Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Thumbay Group and founder patron of BCF, and Dr B K Yusuf, president of BCF, these flights were arranged purely for charity, with all necessary steps taken to ensure the safety of passengers.

Thumbay Group assigned its fleet of buses to transport the passengers free of charge from their residences in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman to the airport. Organisers also provided free meals and refreshments, in addition to PPE kits and face shields.

Among those present at the airport to see the passengers off were Dr Yusuf; Dr Kaup Mohammed, BCF general secretary; other officials of the BCF; as well as Thumbay Group's representatives Farhad C, director of the hospitality division, and Farwaz P.C., COO of the construction division.

Aristocrat Travels supported the ticketing, boarding and other processes for the passengers, while support was also extended by social organisations, including Bhatkal Jamath, Bhatkal Association, KCF-UAE Abdullah Mulky, BCCI, BWF, DKSC, KNRI, Kannadiga Help Line, KDKGS-UAE, Dubai Konkans, KSS and Dubai Kannadigas.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com