Dubai: Indian missions in the UAE will soon start compiling the data of the expatriates wanting to fly back home after getting stuck amidst the coronavirus pandemic in the Gulf nation, according to Gulf News report.
The missions are currently awaiting more clarifications from New Delhi regarding the details that need to be collected and some more issues that need to be clarified, the Gulf News reported on Monday.
"We hope to start soon," Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor was quoted as saying to the paper.
In total, there are more than 3.4 million Indians living in the UAE and they have been requesting the government to facilitate their repatriation, the report said.
Kapoor did not elaborate on the clarifications sought or the expected date of beginning the registration.
The move comes close on the heels of the Indian Embassy in Qatar beginning the registration, the paper reported.
The data compilation also follows reports from India which suggested that the central government was making assessment of preparations in states for bringing home stranded Indians, the report said.
The coronavirus has so far infected 10,839 people in the UAE with 82 deaths, the paper reported.
Kerala ready to receive NRIs
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the state was ready to receive the non-resident Indians as and when the Central government allows operation of aircraft to bring them back.
He also informed that till now, 2.76 lakh non-resident Keralites from over 150 countries have registered on the Norka website indicating their desire to come back to Kerala.
"As per the initial numbers, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Thrissur districts have the maximum number of returnees. A committee under the District Collector with representatives from Airports Authority of India, Kerala Police and Health Department would oversee the elaborate arrangements at airports to receive the NRKs," Vijayan told mediapersons after the daily evaluation meet on COVID-19.
He said there will be doctors and paramedical staff at the airport for detailed checking of the arriving passengers and a rooster of the passengers would be obtained from the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs well in advance.
The Chief Minister also said that after the initial screening, those without symptoms would be sent to their homes for quarantine and there would be regular monitoring by the police and healthcare workers to ensure that they follow the quarantine rules.
He also said that those with symptoms would be moved straight to the quarantine centres and their luggage would be sent home.
He said adequate quarantine and medical facilities near airports have been identified and made ready.
"If the Centre decides to bring the expats by ships, we will make similar arrangements at the ports also. There is no shortage of Viral Transport Medium and we have enough stock of PCR and RNA extraction kits. The Kerala Medical Services Corporation has been directed to procure more kits," Vijayan said.
The chief minister also informed that the registration for Keralites in other states on the Norka website would begin on Wednesday (April 29).
"People from Kerala who are currently stuck or stranded in different parts of the country because of the lockdown and desire to come back to Kerala can register their details on the Norka website," he said.
The registration will begin on April 29 evening and priority would be given to those who have gone for medical treatment in other states and residents of other states who have registered for specialist treatment in Kerala.
Students, those who have lost jobs, those who went for exams or interviews can also register.