Coronavirus: Indian Airforce evacuates 58 Indian pilgrims stranded in Tehran
By Newsmeter Network Published on 10 March 2020 7:39 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Indian Airforce carrier C-17 Globemaster brought the first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims from Tehran to Hindan airbase.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar tweeted, “Thanks to the efforts of our Embassy @India_in_Iran and Indian medical team there, operating under challenging conditions. Thank you @IAF_MCC. Appreciate cooperation of Iranian authorities. We are working on the return of other Indians stranded there. (sic)”
Those who were brought safely included 25 men, 31 were women and two children. The IAF carrier also brought 529 samples for investigation. The 58 citizens will be quarantined at Hindan airbase.
Around 2,000 Indians are living in Iran, a country which is experiencing massive outbreak of coronavirus. According to recent estimates, 237 people have died and around 7,000 have tested positive.
Earlier this month, 11 Hyderabadi pilgrims sent an SOS video to Hyderabad MP Asaddudin Owaisi and Jaishankar asking for immediate relocation.
This is the second evacuation for C-17 Globemaster, after February 27, when he brought home 76 Indians and 36 foreign nationals from Wuhan.
