New Delhi: Union Government took a decision to bring back the stranded Indian citizens outside the country from May 7^th in a phased manner on non-scheduled flights and ships. According to the official sources the first phase lifting targets is UAE, where about two lakhs people have registered with the local missions to return from Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone.

The Government hopes to facilitate return of 1, 92, 000 Indians in short term and another 2- 2, 25, 000 in the medium term. After Gulf countries, the Government will look to bring back people from the US, UK, Iran and South East Asia. Nearly 20, 000 Indians have registered in US repatriation. The Government said it will allow the return of distressed Indians on compelling rounds and that only those asymptomatic will allowed to travelled.

They will have to pay for their travel and 14 day quarantine on return either in hospitals or institutional quarantine, apart from registering on the Aarogya Setu App. The exercise will start on Tuesday with the Government sending naval ship to Maldives to bring back Indians. Around 700 stranded Indians are excepted to be evacuated on May 8^th from Male and brought to Cochin. The Indian High Commission in Male is reaching out to Indians who wish to return on compelling rounds (Medical & other emergencies, pregnant women, stranded tourists and jobless workers from Kerala).

Medical screening of passengers would be done before taking the flight. During the journey all these passengers would have to follow protocols i.e. health protocols, issued by the Ministries of Health and Aviation, said Government in a statement. Given the scale operations, both private airlines and Air India are likely to be deployed for the exercise.