450 evacuated from Iran, Italy
New Delhi/Jaisalmer, March 15: Over 450 Indians, including students, stranded in coronavirushit Iran and Italy were brought back by two flights on Sunday and were quarantined at separate facilities, according to officials.
A total of 218 Indians, mostly students, from Milan landed at around 9.45 am at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and were taken to an ITBP quarantine facility in south-west
Delhi’s Chhawla area. More than 230 Indians brought back from Iran reached New Delhi at about 3.15 am and were quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre in Jaisalmer, the third batch to be evacuated from that country. They had arrived in Delhi on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran and were ferried by two Air India flights to Jaisalmer, IGI airport officials said. While external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said that a total of 234
Indians were evacuated from Iran, defence spokesperson Col. Sombit Ghosh said, “236 persons have landed in Jaisalmer by two Air India flights this morning.”
Jaishankar said the batch comprises 131 students and 103 pilgrims.
“234 Indians stranded in Iran have arrived in India; including 131 students and
103 pilgrims. Thank you Ambassador Dhamu Gaddam and @India_in_Iran team for your efforts. Thank Iranian authorities,” Jaishankar tweeted.
The minister had told Rajya Sabha that the government was focusing on evacuating Indians stranded in Iran and Italy as these countries are facing an “extreme situation”. The centre at Jaisalmer is fully equipped and a functional facility to help Indian citizens undertake the mandatory quarantine period under the supervision of skilled medical authorities.