New Delhi (NVI): When concerns about safety of Indians in coronavirus-hit Wuhan mounted last week, officers and other staff of the Indian Embassy in China were mobilised to help in their evacuation.
Two officers of Indian Foreign Service (IFS), posted in the Indian Embassy in China, particularly stood out in the 96-hour operation, which resulted in the airlifting of 640 Indians and 7 Maldivian nationals on board two special flights. The role of the crew of the two Air India flights also cannot be ignored in this special feat.
Wuhan is the epicentre of the outbreak of the deadly virus which has claimed hundreds of lives so far and it was a humongous task for the Indian Embassy to ensure safe evacuation of the Indians living there. The operation was dangerous because the virus is highly contagious and those undertaking it by entering Wuhan ran the risk of contracting it.
The government of India flew two Air India planes to bring home the evacuees.
Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri put on record his appreciation for the officials who worked behind the scenes to make the evacuation operation successful.
“Want to thank my team at @EOIBeijing which mounted a non-stop almost 96-hour long operation to coordinate a complex airlift under challenging circumstances for us, the passengers and local authorities in #Hubei and #Wuhan,” Misri tweeted.
“A special word of appreciation for two of our officers who are on board the plane – Deepak Padmakumar and M Balakrishnan – they showed exemplary fortitude and a real spirit of public service by traveling to ground zero in #Wuhan to coordinate airport arrangements. Kudos to both,” the Ambassador said in another tweet.
It was clear that the Indian Embassy was working day and night towards the success of the mission as Deepak Padmakumar and M Balakrishnan — both IFS officers– were on their toes to help Indians in coronavirus-hit China. Both IFS officers also belong to the same state- Kerala.
The Indian Foreign Service also lauded Deepak Padmakumar (IFS- 2014 batch) for doing a commendable job in the whole evacuation process.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Kudos to the team @EOIBeijing for coordinating complex airlifts of 647 Indian and 7 Maldives citizens from #Wuhan, China. Deepak Padmakumar [IFS 2014] @deepaddy was our man on the ground,” read a separate tweet by Indian Foreign Service.
Apart from that, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also appreciated the efforts by Air India team that was on board the two special flights to Wuhan for an impeccable operation to evacuate the stranded Indians.
“Saviour in the skies! Salutations and commendations to the @airindiain team, led by Capt Amitabh Singh, Director Ops, Air India, that flew into the epicentre of the Corona virus epidemic to evacuate fellow Indians. Kudos to everyone involved in the operation!,” reads a tweet by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
While the Indian Embassy played a pivotal role in the evacuation process, the Air India team worked round-the-clock tirelessly to bring back the Indian nationals from the coronavirus hotbed.
Those evacuated are now undergoing quarantine at a special facility created by the Indian Army in Manesar and by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Chawla Camp.
“10 of the evacuees who showed symptoms of the virus have been shifted to isolation,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said yesterday while informing the house on developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
