New Delhi: The Union government has started planning for evacuation of Indian nationals stranded abroad.
The Foreign Ministry is coordinating with the Civil Aviation Ministry, Air India, state governments and Indian missions abroad to first prepare a list of countrymen abroad who want to return home.
Government sources have said that they will be flown back only after the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of novel coronavirus is lifted, reports NDTV.
Among thousands of Indians who are keen to return home, most are in the Gulf.
Indians will be flown back either via special flights or regular flights, once operations resume. They will, however, have to pay for the air tickets.
India suspended all domestic and international flight operations from March 23.
PM Narendra Modi extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3.
