Coronavirus: Iran-India take steps for evacuation of citizens From respective countries

With the coronavirus infection advancing its way deep into several countries, the countries have become more alert and concerned in this regard. In this article, Senior journalist Smita Sharma has elaborated the steps taken by India and Iran to evacuate their citizens stranded in both countries. As the first step, an Iranian flight carrying sample swabs of stranded Indian citizens is expected to leave Tehran IKIA Airport on Saturday morning for New Delhi.

New Delhi:In what could give some hope to scores of Indians including some 240 Kashmiri students stranded in Tehran amid the coronavirus outbreak, India and Iran are making efforts to expedite the process of evacuation. The first Iranian flight carrying sample swabs of stranded Indian citizens is expected to leave Tehran IKIA Airport on Saturday morning for New Delhi.

Iran earlier agreed to testing Indian citizens on its soil prior to the evacuation process. Subsequently visas were facilitated for six experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research and Ministry of Health of India to travel to Tehran and conduct the necessary medical tests. Once the medically tested swabs reach Delhi, Indian citizens who have tested negative for nCovid19 will be flown back to India.

Those who test positive or are suspected though will be hospitalized in one of the advanced special medical centers designated by the Ministry of Health of the Iranian government.

"Immediately after the announcement dated 26 Feb. 2020 of DGCA of India on suspension of all Iranian flights to India, the Islamic Republic of Iran bearing in mind the humanitarian aspect and urgency of the issue expressed its full readiness to establish some relief flights for immediate evacuation of all stranded nationals in both sides, taking into account all health protocols," the Embassy said today in a formal statement.

The flight from Tehran that will reach Delhi will fly back bring Iranian nationals to their homeland.Meanwhile discussions are on to consider ‘more and adequate’ flights to New Delhi and Mumbai to facilitate return of nationals to respective countries. Modalities are being worked out to restart limited number of commercial flights between both nations.

"Both countries will continue their close contacts to ensure finding necessary remedies to alleviate the sufferings of all the stranded nationals including tourists, students and businessmen in the current critical situation which requires globally coordinated actions," added the embassy statement. The Iranian embassy also rejected some reports about deportation of Indian citizens affected by Corona Virus as false and baseless.

This week New Delhi and Tehran have witnessed political tensions in their historic ties with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and later Supreme Leader Khameini making some scathing remarks on the #DelhiRiots and comment about 'killing of Muslims' in their tweets. An upset New Delhi summoned the Iranian Ambassador in Delhi to lodge its protest.

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