Staff Reporter NEW DELHI: India is preparing to send warships to Gulf region to evacuate millions of expatriates stranded due to coro...
Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: India is preparing to send warships to Gulf region to evacuate millions of expatriates stranded due to coronavirus spread.
INS Jalashwa, a large warship and two tank landing ships, is set to head to the Gulf. As soon as they get official directions, the journey will begin. It takes five days to reach the Gulf Coast from India.
If necessary, six other tank landing vessels are to be deployed for evacuation. It is estimated that 850 people will be brought to Jhalawsha by keeping social distancing.
While evacuating, preference will be given to children, pregnant women, visit visa holders, fishermen stranded in foreign countries, the elderly and those with ailments other than coronavirus.
There are around eight million Indians in the Gulf region. The number of Keralites registered on the Government of Kerala's NORKA website is indicative of how many are returning. More than two and a half lakh people registered on the NORKA site in 24 hours. Of these, 35,000 are from the UAE alone. It is estimated that about half million of Keralites will return.
Keywords: India, NORKA, Expatriates, Kerala, Gulf, INS Jalashwa
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