Srinagar, May 17: A special direct flight will operation between Dubai and Srinagar on May 22 to bring back Jammu and Kashmir residents, who are stranded in UAE from last over two months due to lockdown to curtail spread of COVID-19.

However, the J&K residents, stranded in UAE, claimed that one flight was not enough as there were more than 1000 people from the Union Territory struck there and sought more flights so that all of them can come back home.

As per the schedule for the second phase of the “Vande Bharat Mission” released by the Union Aviation Ministry on Saturday, a direct flight will operation between Dubai and Srinagar to bring back J&K residents stranded in UAE.

The flight is among 40 Air India flights which will operate between May 18 and June 5 to bring back Indian residents stranded in different countries.

The announcement has brought cheer as well as anxiety to over 1000 Kashmiris stranded in UAE since March 25, when centre suspended international flights amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Srinagar international airport has geared up to resume domestic and international flights amid COVID-19 lockdown. “We have received the schedule for the special flight from Dubai on May 22,” an Airport official said.

He said the number of returnees will depend on the type of aircraft, which will ferry the stranded people.

The announcement of the direct flight from Dubai to Srinagar on a day when Jammu and Kashmir administration urged Government of India (GOI) to evacuate the Union Territory residents, stranded in different Gulf countries, including UAE and Oman, besides Iran amid Covid-19 lockdown.