Indian Government to bring back stranded Indians from abroad post lockdown

The Indian government is planning to evacuate the countrymen stranded in different countries after the nationwide lockdown is lifted. Indian missions in different countries are laying the groundwork for the same and holding consultations with authorities.

Earlier this week, India's Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a video conference with chief secretaries of all states and union territories on the situation on lockdown in the country and resumption of economic activities.

During that meeting, the issue of Indians stranded abroad was also discussed. A government release said cabinet secretary informed that "Ministry of External Affairs has started the process of consultation with the States/UTs to bringing back the Indian nationals stranded in different countries."

The final call for this will be taken after "getting feedback on the preparedness of the states/UTs to receive such people and taking into consideration all required health precautions" which includes quarantine and testing facility.

Several Indians have been stranded across the world, from Japan to Singapore to Europe and Gulf who are keen to come back to India but cannot due to non-operation of flights and pan India lockdown. As of now, the Indian missions have told them to stay put and are reaching out to them by providing them food, accommodation and even dry ration.

While the evacuation of Indians is expected to be a huge task, before the lockdown India had evacuated more than 2000 of its citizens from China, Japan, Italy and Iran.

This also included 48 foreigners, many of them from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.