India has officially declared it’s border as closed now. Earlier situation has now escalated. Now even Indian citizens won’t be able to travel back to their homeland. Earlier, it was just OCI and Foreigners who were barred from entering the country.
From March 18, Anyone including India’s own citizen won’t be able to travel to India from Turkey, Member of Schengen States, United Kingdom and Ireland, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Phillipines.
India’s Ministry of Health confirmed that all passengers transiting through or arriving from UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar would be subject to a mandatory quarantine of a minimum period of 14 days upon their arrival in the country beginning from Wednesday, March 18. The ministry said that these directives are temporary measures and will remain in effect until March 31, 2020, after which it will be reviewed. I believe that this would be extended beyond April 15, atleast.
Whereas, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have stopped accepting Indian citizens on their borders. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have basically closed their borders to everyone and no flight shall fly to or from India to them.
UAE has stopped issuing new Visas and hence no new Indian citizen would be eligible to enter the country. Indian citizens had Visa-on-Arrival facility if they had Visa from USA,UK, Schengen or Australia. Now that facility has temperory been cancelled.
RAILWAYS CANCELS TRAINS, HIKES PLATFORM TICKET FEES
Railways has cancelled 85 trains as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus and due to low occupancy, officials said on Tuesday.
It has also issued a set of guidelines to zonal railways for its catering staff stating no employee having fever, cough, runny nose or difficulty in breathing “should be deployed in the business of food handling on Indian Railways”.
According to officials, central railways cancelled 23 trains, south-central railways cancelled 29 trains, western railways cancelled 10 trains, southeastern railways cancelled 9 trains, east coast and northern railways cancelled 5 trains each, and northwestern railways cancelled 4 trains.
All railway zones have been advised to hike the platform tickets from Rs 10 to Rs 50 in a bid to discourage gathering of large crowds in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
There are multiple states that are in lock down where all malls, cinemas, school or any public gathering places are considered shut.
