Govt in talks with Iran to bring back Indians; Iranian flight to bring 300 swabs
New Delhi: India is in discussions with Iran for evacuation of Indians, while a ferry flight will soon reach the national capital from Tehran with around 300 swab samples of Indians suspected of having coronavirus infection.
The flight is expected to land in the national capital on Friday, according to officials. The flight, to be operated by Iran's Mahan Air, would not have any passengers and Iranians in India would be taken back in the return flight.
There are around 2,000 Indians in Iran, one of the countries which has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. A similar number of Indians are also there in the Persian Gulf country.
Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola on Friday said the first flight from Iran would be carrying the swabs.
"We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis, hourly basis... it will be a ferry flight coming with swabs," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said at a press conference here.
The minister also said evacuation of Indians from Iran is being planned in consultation with the health ministry and the Iran government.
As the government looks at bringing back Indians from coronavirus-hit countries, Kharola said while Indians come here, it should be made sure that they are in a healthy condition.
The health ministry is planning to set up advanced testing facilities in Iran itself. Before they board the flight, a test can be done for these passengers, he added.
A team of medical experts has reached Iran and it would be setting up a basic medical testing facility there.
"Another option is that we are trying to collect the samples, swabs... on the first flight that comes to India, these swabs will be brought. They will be tested in India and within a day.... the results will be known," Kharola noted.
Aviation regulator DGCA's chief Arun Kumar said 300 swabs are expected to be come in the Mahan Air flight. Based on the outcome of the tests, those passengers who test
negative would be allowed to come to the country later,
he added.
(Image from moneycontrol.com)
