Coronavirus: Over 450 Indians evacuated from Iran, Italy All passengers quarantined; third batch to arrive from Iran

Stranded Indians from Italy in an Air India flight en route to New Delhi on Sunday, March 15, 2020. While 218 were evacuated from Italy, a third batch of Indian comprising over 230 students were brought back form Iran.Twitter/@cgmilan1

PTI, 15.03.20, New Delhi: Over 450 Indians stranded in cornavirus-hit Iran and Italy arrived in New Delhi on Sunday. While a total of 218 Indians, including 211 students, arrived from Italy, two Air India flights carrying over 230 Indians from Iran landed in the national capital. 

All the passengers have been quarantined.

218 Indians from Italy

Minister of state for external affairs V. Muraleedharan said all of them will be quarantined for 14 days.

"218 Indians including 211 students from Milan landed in Delhi. All will be quarantined for 14 days. GoI (Government of India) is committed to reach out to Indians in distress, wherever they are," Muraleedharan tweeted.

"Appreciate Govt. of Italy for their support and team @IndiainItaly @cgmilan1 @airindiain @DrSJaishankar," he added.

The flight landed around 9.45am at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital, an airport official said.

"Air India always spreads its wings to stand by the nation in its hour of need," an airline spokesperson said soon after the flight from Milan landed.

Over 230 arrive from Iran

The passengers who arrived from Iran have been quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer.

While external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said that a total of 234 Indians have been 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.

"They are being quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer," Col Ghosh said.

The Centre is fully equipped and a functional facility to help Indian citizens undertake the mandatory quarantine period under the supervision of skilled medical authorities.

Soldiers have volunteered to provide care and support to the countrymen returning from overseas, he said.

The Army Wellness Centre is working in synergy with the Civil Administration, Airport authorities and Air Force to ensure proper care is provided to the evacuated citizens.

This is the third batch of Indians evacuated from Iran.

A second batch of 44 Indian pilgrims had arrived from Iran on Friday. The first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims were brought back from Iran on Tuesday.

The coronavirus outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 5,000 deaths globally.

The government has suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India rose to more than 90.

The government has been carrying out evacuation of Indians from countries, including Iran and Italy.