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We booked our air tickets under Vande Bharat mission dated 19th July me and my wife started to gather information about the further journey from Mumbai to Nagpur from various sources and from people who traveled for Vidarbha or Nagpur. Many thanks to Nagpur repatriation group members who shared their good and ghastly experiences with us and replying message was a great mental support.

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As we have to report early at the Airport than normal our day also started early. Our neighbor and a family friend brought tea and Tiffin for the journey and also dropped us at the airport. It was a great help for us and moral support too in this pandemic time.

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We reached Sharjah Airport at around 6.15 am. There was no rush, very few vehicles were seen there. We were surprised, we entered the airport, prior to check-in there was a COVID-19 blood test for elders. For kids below 10 years no need for the test but we already paid Aed 45 each for my both daughters while booking the tickets online. But there was no way to find out why was so?

Everybody who was traveling to Mumbai got a negative report that’s good, we were also happy to get fit to travel stamp on our passport.

We proceed to the check-in counter, as usual baggage’s weight was more. We adjusted in hand luggage, The lady at the check-in counter helped us and understood our situation. Then we headed towards immigration check, everything was going very smoothly, we finished the immigration check and entered duty-free as only duty-free was open, all the other shops and food court too were closed. As usual so many offers on everything at duty-free, we purchased dates and date chocolates. Then we went to the waiting area still, gate 5 was not open for security check for Air India flight. It’s feeling like a hospital and we were waiting for our turn to visit the doctor. Everywhere silence, neat & clean, everybody wearing masks and maintaining social distance. 

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Airport crew announced the opening of gate 5 for security check. Everybody rushed to the gate without maintaining social distance, volunteers were informing continuously but no one cared. As usual security check is done and we all were sitting in the waiting area, there we have been given a self-reporting declaration form to be filled in two copies and submitted at the destination airport. My overall experience with air India express was not good that much, but now everything happened before time. Before entering flight, everybody was wearing a face shield along with masks and gloves as informed by flight administration and middle passengers have to wear complete coverall provided by the airlines. 

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We entered in flight at approximately 10 am. Everybody settled on their seats, passengers with middle seats were provided PPE suits by airlines. A snack box with water bottles was also placed on the respective seats. Finally, flights take off 15 minutes before its scheduled time as everyone boarded on time. 

Everything was very smooth and hassle-free until now at Sharjah Airport.

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We landed at Mumbai Airport around 2.30 pm….. feel so much relieved but cabin crew informed us that we have to wait for 15 minutes more as one more flight have already landed but it took 1 hour for it as we were not allowed to go all at once to maintain social distancing. We arrived at the counter where you are asked for the self-declaration reporting form and thermal scan. They stamped the form and told us to proceed, then at the next counter they gave us a photocopy of the same stamped form and keep originals with them. Meanwhile, we have been asked for the Arogya Setu app as we already download it so it was easier and it saved our time. It's good to have an Indian number active so that we don’t have to buy it at the airport as there was a long queue for it. Then we arrived at the immigration counter and at last at the baggage counter… all these procedures took very little time. Then we were asked to proceed to district wise counters for final exit. Around 5.30 pm we came out of the airport, it took only 1 hour for all the formalities as we were already prepared for all the documentation Arogya Setu app and E pass with driver contact no and vehicle no.

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As per Indian government regulations, we need an E pass to travel by road, my friend took too much effort for e pass. He was trying to arrange a vehicle for our smooth and comfortable transportation with family. Somehow he arranged the E-pass along with the vehicle and the driver and we received a message for the same before our check-in.

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a) No need for a medical certificate of the passenger.

b) The driver from India can apply e pass for himself and passengers.

c) I tried but it was difficult to get from UAE but anybody can apply. 

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Finally, we started our journey for our hometown Amravati…… we all were excited but tired too, and again we have to travel for the next 13 hours by road was quite hectic as we started early morning from Sharjah. My daughters cooperated very well especially younger one as she couldn’t take her meals properly but still, she was very supportive. My sister packed dinner for us and we picked it from outside her home in Thane as no one was allowed to enter in her society and we too took care as we just have landed before a few hours and started for Amravati. 

The next day on 20th July around 7.30 am we reached Amravati. We directly went to the hotel for 7-day quarantine as instructed by the district collector office. We tried to convince them that we should be quarantined at home as per the guidelines families with kids less than 10 years of age should be home quarantined….. but in vain. It was like forced quarantine…. We were very panicked at first as there is no place like home where we feel relaxed but after some time we realized that the local people were also panic as covid 19 is an imported virus. We adapted the change according to the situation and with positive thinking. My friend provided lunch for all of us from his home….. it was a great help as we were scared to have outside food. 

After 5 days we have been asked to do the covid test…. As all of us were negative we were allowed to go to our home but again it takes 2 more days from the test done. After reaching home we feel so relaxed that can’t be expressed in words. 

Thank you everyone who helped us in these trying and panic times and hope our experience will help others who wish to fly back to India.