By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE, 21 March 2020: India has informed the Indian community and overseas students here that it may not be possible to consider requests for all those who apply for visas and hence those applying need to change their traveling schedules. A government source says no flights will be allowed to land in India between 22-29 March 2020.
In a letter written by the Indian High Commissioner HE Mr. A. Gitesh Sarma to the “Indian community and student organizations in Australia” and made available to SAT by the Indian Consulate, Melbourne, the letter says, ” It may not be possible for the time being to consider requests for grant of visa and your traveling plans may, therefore, need to be changed. These restrictions would, of course, be subject to regular review by the authorities in India.”
The letter says, ” …in order to prevent the spread the coronavirus in Australia, you would have noted that Government here has also announced a series of measures over the last few days aimed at containment of the pandemic.”
The Indian High Commissioners letter urges the community and students to take precautions and not to panic. This situation, it says, can be managed successfully managed by standing together as one family, helping one another, especially the needy ones amongst us.
The community has also been urged to access helpline of the High Commission of India, Canberra, all the three consulates across Australia and websites and their social media platforms for updates.
