KASARGOD: As the pass issued by Karnataka-Kerala governments has been made compulsory for those returning to Kerala from other states, about 5000 Malayalis are stuck in Maharashtra. Even if they have Maharashtra pass, it won’t suffice.

Thousands of Malayalis are getting ready to travel to Kerala from places like Goa, Pune and Mumbai. Currently, people are allowed to come to Kerala in their private vehicles.

By now, as many as 1820 persons have procured passes and entered the State. 10,415 persons have applied for the pass.

Meanwhile, District Collector Dr D Sajith Babu has informed that no one will be allowed to enter Kasargod without the Kerala-Karnataka pass.

In boarder areas including Thalappady check posts, the government had made extensive arrangement for bringing back Malayalis stranded in other states.

But things are not happening as expected. The number of Malayalis returning has been low.

Though the expected number is 4000, only less than 1000 people are reaching here every day.

100 testing counters have been arranged in Thalappady. But now as the number of people arriving is less, the number of counters has been cut to 68.

Those who reach here night should wait till morning. People including pregnant women sometimes have to stay here for about four hours.