Shillong May 1: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday said it is not possible for the state government to bring back citizens including students, who are stranded outside the North East region, by road in view of the nationwide lockdown.

He however said government will have to wait for the airport and railway services to resume.

Stating that the government will notify the registration form for such citizens by tomorrow, Tynsong said, “Those who are desire to come back to the state will have to register with the government. Contact numbers will also be made available from Saturday.”

Earlier, the government has decided to allow citizens, who are stranded in the North East states due to COVID-19 lockdown, to return to the state from May 5.

In order to facilitate their coming back, Tynsong informed that the government will convene a meeting with the various traditional heads for their support and cooperation.

“We also be giving the prescribed protocols to all traditional heads on how to handle those friends who are coming back to the state,” he said.

Asked, Tynsong maintained that it will be mandatory for all citizens who are returning to the state to complete 14 days quarantine.

“On whether they will be home or institutional quarantine, that will also be decided in tomorrow’s meeting,” he added.

A total of 10,288 people who are stranded across the country have registered with the government.

Of this, 2719 are stranded in Karnataka, 2104 Assam, 1164 Tamil Nadu, 687 Maharashtra, 642 West Bengal, 531 Delhi, 350 Telangana, 254 Kerala, 201 Rajasthan, 194 Gujarat, 194 Uttar Pradesh, 175 Andra Pradesh, 164 Uttarakhand, 120 Haryana, 101 Bihar, 101 Goa, 94 Arunachal Pradesh, 81 Manipur, 78 Madhya Pradesh, 58 Punjab, 56 Nagaland, 51 Pondicherry, 40 Mizoram, 35 Tripura, 21 Odissa, 19 Sikkim, 16 Himachal Pradesh, 15 Jharkhand, 7 Chandigarh, 7 Chattisgarh, 4 Andaman & Nicobar Island.

Earlier, the state government has also provided financial assistance of Rs 3,000 each to over 7000 stranded citizens.