India on Sunday temporarily suspended the e-visa facility for Chinese travellers and foreigners residing in China in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Due to certain current developments, travel to India on e-visas stands temporarily suspended with immediate effect,” the Indian embassy in Beijing announced. “This applies to holders of Chinese passports and applicants of other nationalities residing in the People’s Republic of China. Holders of already issued e-visas may note that these are no longer valid,” it said.
“All those who have a compelling reason to visit India may contact the embassy of India in Beijing or the Indian consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou, as well as the Indian visa application centres in these cities,” the embassy added.
The e-visa facility was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to China in 2015.
India has evacuated 647 Indians and seven Maldivian citizens by special flights from coronavirus-hit Wuhan city.
Air India’s jumbo B747 made two flights to Wuhan. In the first flight on Saturday, 324 Indians were evacuated and on Sunday another 323 Indians and seven Maldivian citizens were flown back.
