An Indian Air Force special aircraft brought back a group of 112 Indians and foreign nationals from the coronavirus outbreak epicentre, Wuhan, early on Thursday.
Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri earlier in a tweet said, “76 Indian nationals are returning home on this flight, which also has on board 23 nationals from Bangladesh, 6 from China, 2 each from Myanmar and Maldives and one each from South Africa, USA and Madagascar. Wish them all a safe journey and good health.”
The C-17 Globemaster military aircraft delivered more than 15 tons of medical assistance comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment the virus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan and on its return, the flight has brought back 76 Indians and 36 nationals from seven countries.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in a tweet said, “On its return from Wuhan, the IAF flight has brought back 76 Indians & 36 nationals from 7 countries – Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, China, South Africa, USA and Madagascar. Appreciate facilitation by Chinese government.”
All evacuated passengers undergo 14 days quarantine on arrival in India. All those on the first two flights have tested negative for COVID-19 and have since left the quarantine facilities. The passengers on board the third flight will also undergo similar quarantine on arrival in India, the release said.
Indian government has been closely following the developments in China in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in December 2019.
