MUSCAT: As India prepares to evacuate stranded citizens from Oman on two special flights next week, the Indian Embassy in Muscat has informed that passengers will be taken only on priority.

According to the statement issued to The Arabian Stories on Tuesday, the embassy said priority will be given to medical emergency cases, pregnant women, workers in distress, senior citizens as well as to other people who are stranded in difficult situations.

“The Embassy is in the process of contacting the short-listed people for each flight directly through email/telephone,” the statement said.

The first Air India flight will take off from Muscat to Kochi on May 9 and the second to Chennai on May 12 taking a total of 450 passengers in the first phase.

“The cost of tickets will have to be borne by the passengers themselves and air tickets will be issued by the airline only in the cases which are cleared by the Embassy.

“Other conditions of travel, including quarantine requirements in India as well as health requirements to board the flight will be conveyed in due course and will have to be accepted by each passenger,” embassy said.

According to the embassy, details of more flights to different destinations in India as will be informed as soon as the same are decided.

“Since there are large number of requests which have been received by the Embassy, it would take time for everyone to be accommodated. We seek patience and cooperation from all as this massive task of repatriation of stranded Indian is undertaken by Government of India,” embassy added.

Indians can contact embassy helpline on +968 24695981, 800771234 (toll free), +968 93577979 (WhatsApp)