India to send a ship to evacuate 200 of its nationals from Maldives

The Indian press, on Monday, carried reports that India was scheduled to send a ship to evacuate 200 of nationals stranded in Maldives due to the restrictions in international travel to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian newspaper Deccan Herald reported that Indian High Commission in Maldives confirmed a ship would be sent to evacuate 200 Indian nationals this week.

When asked for a comment, deputy high commissioner Shri Rohit Rathish told Sun that while a repatriation operation was being planned, nothing had been finalized.

He however said that it was ‘likely’ the evacuation would be conducted via ship.

He said that India would prioritize evacuating the pregnant women registered with the high commission, the elderly, the people with preexisting medical conditions, the people who have been laid off, the people who wish to return to India following the death of family member, and stranded tourists.

Maldives is hosting some 27,000 Indian nationals, noted the deputy high commissioner.

According to Deccan Herald, the Indian evacuees will be first taken to Cochin, where they will undergo 14-day quarantine before being allowed to go to their respective destinations.

India has held similar repatriation operations to evauate its nationals from China, Italy, Iran, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Japan.