Srinagar, May 12: Around 12000 Kashmiri residents who were stranded in different parts of the country have been evacuated by the Jammu and Kashmir administration so far, officials said on Tuesday.

Talking exclusively to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), divisional commissioner Kashmir PK Pole said that around 12000 Kashmiris who were stranded in different states of the country have been evacuated so far.

He also said that around 350 Kashmiris which includes students as well have been evacuated from other countries so far. Asked about sample collection for Covid-19 testing of these travelers, PK Pole said that the facilities have been kept available in each district.

“Samples of these people coming from outside will be collected from their concerned district headquarters for Covid-19 testing,” he said.

The administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has started a massive evacuation process to bring back Kashmiri residents stranded in different parts of the country and other countries due to nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.

Officials said that people who have been evacuated from different parts of the country and other countries belong to several districts of Kashmir including, Srinagar, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Kulgam and Budgam.

They said that these people will be quarantined at different quarantine centres established in their concerned districts.

Pertinently, thousands of Kashmiris have got stuck in various parts of the country and outside countries due to the nationwide lockdown announced on March 24 this year to prevent spread of Covid-19.

People stranded outside Kashmir have been making distress calls urging the authorities to evacuate them and facilitate their return home.