New Delhi: India has imported about 261 tones of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and Covid-19 relief materials from various counties like China, South Korea and Hong Kong since 4 April 2020.
A cargo air-bridge has been set up with East Asia for this purpose, the government said in a statement.
Within India, as many as 301 flights have been completed as part of Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private airlines to take essential medical cargo to various parts of the country. Of this, 184 flights have been completed by Air India and Alliance Air.
Priavte airlines are operating flights for this purpose on commercial basis. Spicejet operated as many as 427 cargo flights in the 24 March-19 April 2020 period carrying 3,414 tones of cargo. Of this, 135 were international cargo flights.
Blue Dart has operated as many as 141 domestic cargo flights carrying 2,241 tones of cargo in the 25 March-19 April 2020. Indigo has operated 33 cargo flights in the 3-19 April 2020 period carrying 66 tons of cargo. This also includes medical supplies carried free of cost for the government.
Helicopter services have been conducted in various parts of the county including J&K, Ladakh, Islands and North East region for transportation of medical cargo and even patients. State-owned Pawan Hans has carried 1.90 tons of cargo and has covered a distance of 6,537 kilometers.