COVID-19: Iranian carriers to evacuate Indians in Gulf state

New Delhi, March 12 Centre has decided to evacuate Ind stuck in Iran due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the Middle Eastern country by allowing the operation of two special ferry flights.

According to the plans for evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran, the government will allow flight services of Iran Air and Mahan Air to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Presently, only Mahan Air and Iran Air operate flight services between India and Iran, however, last month, the services of these two airlines to India were discontinued to prevent the spread of coronavirus outbreak.

The plan envisages to ferry only those Ind back, who have tested negative for the coronavirus. Iran announced the first cases of viral infection in the central Qom city on February 18.

Currently, many Indian pilgrims and students are stranded in the middle eastern country.

There are many Ind mostly from Kargil area of Kashmir stranded there. They had gone to visit a religious shrine in Iran but got stuck as regular commercial flights were suspended between the two countries following the spread of the virus.

Similarly, many Iran are currently in India who would be flown back to their country by the ferry flights.

A team of Indian doctors has already been sent to Iran for ensuring that stranded citizens there are thoroughly examined before boarding the evacuation flight.

"These airlines will bring Ind stranded in Iran back to Mumbai and Delhi," Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola told .

"From Mumbai and Delhi airports, these evacuated Ind will be transferred by Air india to Jaiselmer for quarantine."

As per plans, the first flight of Iran Air will evacuate Indian from the middle eastern country to Mumbai on March 13th, while the second flight will be operated by Mahan Air on March 15th to New Delhi.

On Thursday, Kharola chaired a meeting with different government agencies and stakeholders to review preparedness for evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran.

Earlier in the month, Iranian carrier Mahan Air brought back blood samples of 300 Ind stranded in the coronavirus-hit country and while returning, its aircraft flew back Iranian nationals in India.

( With inputs from IANS )