Chennai, It was 'Mother Land Ahoy' moment for over 700 Indians who returned to India on Tuesday after being stranded in Sri Lanka as the flights were grounded to prevent spread of coronavirus.

The Indians were brought by naval ship INS Jalashwa to Tuticorin. The repatriation is part of Operation Samudra Setu under the Vande Bharat Mission.

The ship left for the island nation on Monday and reached the V.O. Chidambaram Port in Tutocorin on Tuesday, said a defence official.

The passengers were safely disembarked and they followed the prescribed protocol. They were taken to the terminal from the berth by buses.

At the terminal, the passengers were asked to download the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones and other formalities were also carried out.