The western coastal belt of Kerala and Karnataka, home to a large number of emigrants, is abuzz with anticipation. With flights from across the world scheduled to start arriving with stranded Indians, both families and public health officials have been in the midst of preparations.
Two coastal regions in particular—the Malabar in Kerala and the Konkan along the seaboard of Karnataka—account for more than 720,000 people who work in the Gulf.
Naturally, the international airports at Mangaluru in Karnataka and Kozhikode in Kerala are expecting a flood of arrivals from West Asian countries over the next few weeks.
Both airports are fully geared for the first wave. “The ministry of civil aviation is yet to schedule any incoming flight to