New Delhi (NVI): Continuing with the process of evacuating its citizens from coronavirus-hit China, India today airlifted 323 people from Wuhan.
They were brought to Delhi early this morning by a special flight operated by Air India, in second such sortie in two days. Seven Maldivian citizens were also evacuated by the same flight.
The first Air India flight Boeing 747 brought back 324 Indians stranded in Wuhan yesterday. Among those who returned were three minors and 211 students.
Those brought by these two special flights have been taken to two quarantine facilities where they will be monitored for any signs of the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed hundreds of lives in China and some other countries.
The second Air India special flight departed at 3.10am (IST) from Wuhan today and landed at New Delhi airport around 9.45am.
“The 2nd AirIndia flight from Wuhan has just taken off for Delhi with 323 Indian citizens on board. 7 Maldives citizens are also being evacuated,” Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri tweeted.
The 2nd #AirIndia flight from #Wuhan has just taken off for #Delhi with 323 Indian citizens on board. 7 Maldives citizens are also being evacuated. Grateful once again to @MFA_China and local authorities all across #Hubei for their assistance. @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @EOIBeijing
— Vikram Misri (@VikramMisri) February 1, 2020
“Deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and EM Dr S Jaishankar. Special thanks to Ambassadors Vikram Misri and Sunjay Sudhir and their teams,” Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahi tweeted.
The deadly virus has killed more than 300 people and infected over 9,000 in China while two people from Kerala have tested positive for the virus in India.
