In the wake of worsening nuclear crisis in quake and tsunami-hit Japan, India today advised its nationals and their families in that country to return from radiation-affected Tokyo and other areas.

"Given the situation in Japan, the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) is of the opinion that our nationals, especially families, who wish to return voluntarily from Tokyo and other affected areas, may do so", MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Japan's nuclear safety agency raised the Fukushima atomic power plant crisis level to five from four on the international scale of gravity for nuclear accidents, which goes to as high as seven.

National News inextlive from India News Desk