A file photo of Indians airlifted from Iran earlier this week.
New Delhi: More than 200 Indians, including students and pilgrims stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran, reached India early on Sunday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said.
The batch comprises 131 students and 103 pilgrims, he said.
While External Affairs Minister 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.
Jaishankar thanked Iranian authorities for helping India in the evacuation of its nationals, who came back in a Mahan Air flight, an Iranian carrier. They landed in Mumbai.
234 Indians stranded in #Iran have arrived in India; including 131 students and 103 pilgrims.
Thank you Ambassador @dhamugaddam and @India_in_Iran team for your efforts. Thank Iranian authorities.— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 14, 2020
However Col Gosh said the passengers are being quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer, according to the Financial Express. 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, he was quoted as saying.
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.
Iran is one of the worst-affected countries by the coronavirus outbreak and the government has been working on plans to bring back Indians stranded there.
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