18:10

Thousands of British nationals trapped in India after the country went into lockdown are to be rescued by charter flights which will start leaving the country next week, the foreign office has announced.

In the past few minutes, Jan Thomson the high commissioner in Delhi has said:

Special charter flights from India to the UK organised by the British government will start next week. We are still in the process of finalising details with the Indian government and airlines. Next week is just the start. We will not be able to get everyone home immediately so please bear with us.

UK in India🇬🇧🇮🇳 (@UKinIndia) A further update from Acting High Commissioner @JanThompsonFCO on getting you home:



“Special charter flights from India to the UK will start next week – more information will follow over the weekend”



Details will be published on our Travel Advice and here. pic.twitter.com/LJf8AsKpnh

India has been a priority for the government since Dominic Raab announced the £75m airlift operation to repatriate stranded Britons.

More details of flights are expected on Sunday.

Thompson said the priority would be to get the most vulnerable on board first after reports of many elderly tourists in Kerala.



The British ambassador in Kathmandu has also confirmed flights from Nepal, possibly at the end of next week.

