On Sunday, May 17, the Indian Navy amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa arrived in Kochi Harbour to conclude its second voyage to bring Indian citizens back to the country from Male, Maldives, under the repatriation effort dubbed Operation Samudra Setu.
Jalashwa had departed Male with 588 people in addition to its crew on Saturday, May 16, as part of New Delhi's recently launched effort to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who have become stranded on foreign shores due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ship's first Samudra Setu mission, which was completed on May 10, ensured the safe return of 698 Indian citizens from Male.
In addition to repatriating displaced citizens, Jalashwa and other Indian Navy vessels have been sailing to different countries in the Indian Ocean region and the Middle East to deliver medicines, food provisions, and other essential supplies to aid in those countries' efforts in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.