Special Air India flight evacuates 218 Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy
A special Air India aircraft carrying 220 passengers, which included 211 Indian students, stranded in coronavirus-hit Italy arrived in India, on Sunday (March 15).
The flight landed around 9.45 am at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here, an airport official said.
Taking it to Twitter, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said, “218 Indians including 211 students from Milan landed in Delhi. All will be quarantined for 14 days. GoI is committed to reach out to Indians in distress, wherever they are! Appreciate Govt. of Italy for their support and team.”
India in Milan: 211 students & 7 compassionate cases departed by Air India flight from Milan, in Italy. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/OQ0O70qY89
— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2020
The 218 Indians who landed from Milan will be shifted to Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s Chhawla camp. “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 here.
The 218 Indians who landed from Milan, Italy at Delhi airport will be shifted to Indo-Tibetan Border Police's Chhawla camp. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/ER6ylfLUCE
— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2020
Another batch of 234 Indians stranded in Iran also landed in Delhi in a Mahan Air flight early this morning. They were flown to an army quarantine facility in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer in two Air India flights.
Related news: 234 Indians stranded in Iran have arrived in India, says EAM Jaishankar
“Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer is fully equipped facility to help Indian citizens undertake mandatory quarantine period under the supervision of skilled medical authorities. Soldiers have volunteered to provide care and support to our countrymen returning from overseas,” ANI quoted Indian Army as saying.
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.
(With inputs from agencies)
