Uncertainty that lasted several hours at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border at Inchivila on Tuesday came to an end after the Tamil Nadu government relaxed norms for the 50-odd Kerala returnees who sought permission to return to their native places.
Several families including infants were stranded at the check-post for over four hours after the Tamil Nadu police insisted on obtaining transit passes issued by the State government. This led to heated scenes with many arguing that they had obtained the passes issued by the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NoRKA) and the Collector of their home district.
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With the Tamil Nadu police unrelenting to their demand, the returnees were compelled to apply for the e-pass and await its issuance for long hours in the searing heat.
Finally, they were allowed to cross the border after the server of the registration portal crashed, prompting the Tamil Nadu authorities to relax the requirement.
According to Kanyakumari Collector Prashant M. Wadnere, the transit pass will not be required for those in the Kanyakumari district. However, the document is mandatory for those commencing their journey from other districts and traveling via Kanyakumari, he said.
Eighty one people have crossed the inter-State border at Inchivila thus far on Tuesday.
