India to facilitate return of stranded nationals this week

Muscat: The process of the much-awaited return of Indians stranded abroad, including in Oman and the GCC, will begin from May 7, the Indian government has said.

The return of Indians abroad will be facilitated on compelling grounds in a phased manner.

The Indian Embassy in Muscat has been collecting details through its website of the consulate of the wanting to travel back home for various reasons.

According to sources, the details of the process will be prepared in coordination with the competent authorities both in Oman and India.

Meanwhile, over 400,000 people from the Gulf have also registered through the Kerala government's NORKA (Non-Resident Keralites Affairs) website for similar purposes. As per NORKA estimates, the registration included those of 61,000 job losses and 10,000 pregnant women.

"The travel will be arranged by aircraft and naval ships. Indian embassies will be preparing a list of Indian citizens choosing to return home. This facility would be made available on payment basis. Non-scheduled commercial flights would be arranged for air travel. The travel would begin in a phased manner from May 7, a circular issued by the Indian government said.”

“The medical screening of passengers will be done before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel. During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the ‘Health Protocols’, issued by the country's Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.”

During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the Health Protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian circular said.

“On reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Arogya Setu app. Everyone would be medically screened. After scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the State government concerned. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols.”

State governments are being advised to make arrangements, including testing, quarantine, and onward movement of the returning Indians in their respective states.