India has embarked on a “massive” operation calling up passenger jets and naval ships to bring back some of the hundreds of thousands of nationals stuck abroad due to coronavirus restrictions, AFP reported.

A defence spokesman told AFP that two ships were steaming towards the Maldives and another to the United Arab Emirates — home to an Indian community of 3.3 million, who make up around 30 per cent of the Gulf state's population.

A government statement said repatriation flights would start bringing nationals home from Thursday, and that Indian embassies and high commissions were preparing lists of “distressed Indian citizens”.

Evacuees will have to pay for their passage the statement said, without elaborating, and spend 14 days in quarantine on arrival.