Assam is expecting four repatriation flights from Ukraine, Russia, the Philippines and Kuwait from Wednesday.

Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said the four flights are expected to land at Guwahati airport between Wednesday and June 5. “The flights are scheduled to arrive next week from Ukraine, Russia, the Philippines and Kuwait,” he added.

Krishna, however, did not reveal the exact dates or schedule of the flights nor did he mention the number of people that are coming back.

A source said around 500 people are being repatriated under the Vande Bharat Mission.

Among them, 136 people will be returning from Kuwait to Assam and Tripura. They were lodged in prisons in Kuwait for various reasons and they will be deported between Wednesday and June 4.

Since several of them hail from Tripura, the Biplab Kumar Deb-led government had asked Kuwait to make arrangements for dropping them at Agartala but this request was denied. The flight will land in Guwahati only.

Repatriation is the process of sending back a person — voluntarily or forcibly — to their place of origin or citizenship. It also applies to diplomatic envoys, international officials, expatriates and migrants during an international crisis. In case of refugees, asylum-seekers and illegal migrants, repatriation can either mean voluntary return or deportation.