New Delhi: Seventy-eight people, who were evacuated from Afghanistan, were discharged from ITBP's Chhawla Camp after completing 14-day quarantine. The group which includes 53 Afghan nationals and 25 Indian nationals had reached the ITBP Quarantine Facility on August 24 after being airlifted from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.
According to sources, 35 people, including 24 Indians and 11 Nepalese evacuees from Afghanistan are under quarantine at the ITBP Centre. They will be released after completing their requisite quarantine period on September 8.
Read: Evacuation from Afghanistan: Air India flight with 78 people lands at Delhi airport
As per the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry on August 23, it is mandatory for those arriving in India from Afghanistan to remain in institutional quarantine for at least 14 days from the day of arrival at the ITBP Chhawla camp. The evacuees arriving in India are also tested for COVID-19. The Union Health Ministry had allowed exemption from mandatory pre-boarding RT-PCR testing — the norm for international travellers — for people who are being airlifted from Afghanistan.
Apart from food and lodging, facilities of entertainment, indoor games, Wi-Fi, canteen etc were provided free of cost. Yoga and stress counselling sessions are also organized at the centre.
Read: 16 out of 78 Afghanistan evacuees test Covid positive
The ITBP Quarantine facility at Chhawla Camp is credited with having established the first 1,000 bedded quarantine centre of the country which had quarantined more than 1,200 persons including 42 nationals from eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Maldives, US, South Africa, Madagascar, and Afghanistan)- evacuated from various parts of the globe; more specifically from Wuhan, China and Milan, Italy from January to May 2020.
