New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today issued fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the movement of Indian nationals stranded outside the country as well as for those stranded in India desirous to travel abroad.
The new SOP from Home Ministry came hours after the Health Ministry issued guidelines for domestic travel and international arrivals, as domestic flight operations are resuming tomorrow.
In the MHA order, the SOPs were classified as “movement of Indian Nationals stranded outside the country and of specified persons to travel abroad”.
The Home Ministry has said that it will facilitate the movement of such Indian nationals who need to visit India in medical emergencies or the death of a family member. The international travel of passengers stands prohibited as per MHA’s previous orders related to lockdown measures.
“Such persons will register themselves with the Indian Missions in the country where they are stranded, along with necessary details as prescribed by MEA,” the MHA order read.
They will travel to India by non scheduled commercial flights as allowed by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA); and ships as allowed by Department of Military Affairs (DMA)/Ministry of Shipping (MOS), the ministry said in a statement. “Only those crew and staff, who are tested COVID-19 negative, will be allowed to operate these flights/ships,” the ministry added.
The cost of travel, as specified by the carrier will be borne by such travellers. All travellers will also be required to give an undertaking that they are making the journey at their own risk.
