Coronavirus: 11 Hyderabad pilgrims stranded in Iran

Hyderabad: Iran is one of the worst affected countries after China; due to coronavirus as the death toll touched 107, the number of infected cases is 3513. Due to the travel restrictions, around 11 Hyderabad pilgrims are stuck in Mashhad.

The 11 pilgrims including eight women and three men visited the shrine of Imam Moosa Raza, in the holy city Mashhad. One of the stranded women said, "Before coming here we had booked tickets with Air Arabia, they confirmed us saying that our flights are scheduled, but after visiting here, they cancelled the flights. The medicines that we brought with us are getting over."

They have requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi to evacuate them as soon as possible from Iran.

Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted after he came to know of this. He said, "I have also sent a representation to @DrSJaishankar to bring back the family which went to Mashhad to visit the Shrine of Imam Moosa Raza. (sic)"

Telangana Minister Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industry & Commerce, Information Technology KT Rama Rao also asserted support to the family. He said, "Will surely take care MP Saab. I’ll personally monitor and coordinate their safe return back to India. (sic)"

The flights from Iran were suspended after Directorate General of Civil Aviation said temporarily suspended all Iran carriers from operating in India due to the novel corona outbreak there. On March 4 Ladhak MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, said that around 1200 pilgrims from Ladakh are also stuck in Iran.