Photo has been used for illustrative purpose.

Mohamed Alaa, Staff Reporter

The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi has revealed that 203,660 Indian citizens in the UAE are wishing to travel back to India under COVID-19 circumstances.

The embassy said that in two days around 50,000 Indian citizens in the UAE filled in the electronic form of collection of data that has been launched on Thursday to create a database of Indians who wish to travel back to India under COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, 153,660 requests have been received by the Kerala state government website separately, the Embassy of India stated.

The embassy said, “The purpose of this forms only collection of information to enable Government of India to plan for return of Indians from abroad in COVID-19 situation.”

It continued, “This form is to be filled for a single individual at a time. For families a separate form may be filled for each member. Similarly for companies, a separate form may be filled for each employee.”

The numbers are increasing around the clock, the embassy of India said, noting that the data collection process will continue, and then analysed to assist the Indian Government in carrying out its plan to enable the stranded Indian citizens at the level of the world return home.

The embassy has also asked Indian citizens in the UAE who wish to fly back home and have not yet registered to register via “https://www.cgidubai.gov.in/covid_register.”

“The decision on resumption of passenger flights to India will be taken in due course. Any announcement in this regard will be made on our website and social media channels. All conditions for travel, to be prescribed later, will need to be followed,” the embassy added.

“The priority will be given to workers who face difficulties in living, critical medical conditions, pregnant women, the elderly, students and who are stranded in airports,” the embassy said.

“All rules and regulations of Government of UAE on departure and Government of India on arrival will need to be strictly followed, especially those related to Covid-19,” the Indian embassy added.

The Indian Embassy to the UAE has opened online registration for the expatriates who wish to fly back home on last Thursday, which witnessed registration of 25,000 citizens wishing to travel back to their home.

Recently, Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, discussed, with Prahlad Singh Patel, Indian Minister of Culture, ways of strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the UAE and India in tangible and intangible heritage, WAM reported