In two days, over 3k return home

TNN | May 6, 2020, 04:49 IST

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 3,363 Keralites, who were stranded in other Indian states owing to the national lockdown, have returned home through inter-state borders, though confusion prevailed at entry points leading to a delay in completion of procedures.
The state government also made a major amendment in the guidelines issued earlier with regard to quarantine norms for inter-state travel by mandating a compulsory 7-day institutional quarantine for those coming from red zone districts in other states.
"As many as 1,80,540 persons stranded in other states have registered on Norka (website) and the state has issued passes to 25,410 persons," said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday.
But, several people were stranded at entry points as they did not have passes from the states where they began their journey, the CM said, urging people who want to return to ensure that they have the required permission from the origin point.
Vijayan also said that efforts were on to bring back students from far-off places like Delhi, Punjab and Haryana by facilitating a centralized travel arrangement from Delhi. "The government is also aware about the shortage of vehicles for inter-state journey and is taking necessary steps to resolve this issue," he said.
Meanwhile, a group of around 40 Malayalis were stranded at Kaliyikkavila on Tamil Nadu-Kerala border for almost six hours on Tuesday as they didn’t have exit passes from Tamil Nadu authorities. However, they were permitted to cross the border after the intervention of the district collectors of Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari and local MLAs.
Of the 191 persons who reached the state via Inchivila checkpost on Tamil Nadu-Kerala border on Tuesday, 167 people were allowed to enter the state after screening, while the screening of the rest is progressing, said an official release. As many as 24 persons were allowed to enter the state through this checkpost on Monday.
3 sent to Covid centre from Walayar
Three homoeo medical students who came from Salem in Tamil Nadu through Walayar check post were sent to Covid-19 centre after testing them at district hospital since they were having fever. They hail from Kozhikode and Kannur districts, the health department officials said.
Meanwhile, a 54-year old man, who came with five others in a car from Chennai, had a heart attack as he reached Walayar checkpost on his way to his house at Kuzhalmannam in the district. He was admitted to the district hospital.
126 people arrive via Aryankavu
Keralites numbering 126 crossed over into the state from Tamil Nadu in 59 vehicles through the Aryankavu checkpost on Tuesday. Punalur RDO Sasikumar, district rural police chief Hari Sankar and other officials received the family of Shinu from Thevallakkara, who arrived first.
Earlier, district collector B Abdul nazar visited the checkpost and reviewed the arrangements for receiving those arriving from across the border. Pass has been issued to 679 people to cross the borders via Aryankavu in the coming days.