'29,058 passengers on board 829 ships from virus-hit nations not allowed to disembark'

New Delhi: Stepping up measures to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus, the government has so far prevented 29,058 crew and passengers on board 829 ships from disembarking on Indian shores and arranged for safe transport of EXIM cargo, a Shipping Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Apart from restricting cargo handling and scanning passengers and crew, the government has prohibited entry of any international cruise ship, crew or passengers with a travel history to coronavirus-hit countries post February 1, 2020, to its major ports till March 31.

Till March 17, a total of 29,058 crew and passengers on board 829 vessels arrived on Indian shores from China or travel history to impacted countries.

"They have not been allowed to disembark as a precautionary measure to contain any possible spread of the virus. They were allowed to anchor at designated places, but no shore passes were issued to such crew and passengers post January 26," the official said. Of 829 ships, 523 had arrived at India's 12 major ports while the remaining arrived at minor ports under the control of the state governments.

As per the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), all passengers and crew aboard the vessels are being scanned, and all necessary facilities are being extended to them, the official said.