Thiruvananthapuram, May 04: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that the State has requested the support and the intervention of the Central Government in arranging special non-stop trains in bringing back the thousands of Malayalees stranded in other States across the country.

“I have written to the Prime Minister to bring back these stranded Malayalees in the special non-stop trains being used to send the guest workers from Kerala to other States. I have also requested the PM to allow special non-stop trains from other places also to Kerala. Our government’s policy is to bring back those who are stranded outside”, the Chief Minister said while briefing the media today.

Till date, 1,66,263 Keralites from other States have registered in the Norka website indicating their desire to come back to the State. The maximum number of people is from the neighbouring States of Karnataka (55,188) and Tamil Nadu (50,863) but it’s the people in other States who require transportation by trains as it would be too long and hard for them to travel by road.

Meanwhile, over 28,272  people have applied for vehicle passes to enter Kerala by road and 5,470 passes have been issued till now. Those who have registered through Norka will get priority. They should use the Covid-19 Jagratha Portal (covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in) to get the pass. But those who want to go and collect their family members in other States should get the required permission from those States also. Those travelling to Kerala should install the Covid-19 Jagratha app in their smartphones for any emergency assistance.

The CM also informed that efforts are being taken to bring back those who are stranded in the Lakshadweep islands.