Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): At least 276 Kashmiri students and a few pilgrims, who were airlifted in mid-March from Iran and lodged at an army facility at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan will return to their homes after a gap of over a month.
In mid-March, 276 Kashmiri students, who were pursuing MBBS at Iran and a few pilgrims were airlifted after pandemic gripped the country and people started falling prey to the virus in large numbers. The evacuees were then lodged at an army facility at Jaisalmer where they completed 14 days mandatory quarantine on March 29. They were kept at the army facility even after completing their quarantine period, in view of the restrictions imposed amid the nationwide lockdown.
Today, almost after over a month, all 276 students and pilgrims were airlifted from Jaisalmer in an Indian Airforce (IAF) aircraft, that would land in Srinagar this evening. Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr. Shahid Iqbal Tweeted: “It feels so good to be able to bring good news and it happens rarely. Flights carrying many stranded pilgrims/students (Iran returnees) are about to touch base in Srinagar n they will be headed home after screening. Teams to facilitate transport.”
The news brought smiles on the faces of dozens of parents who had been moving from pillar to post to press for the early homecoming of their children.
Shabir Hussain, whose daughter was also at the Jaisalmer army facility for over a month, said the news came to him as a surprise. “I am preparing to receive my daughter and other students,” said Hussain, who along with dozens of other parents, had staged a protest at Srinagar to press for the early return of their wards from Jaisalmer camp.
Earlier in March, Union Minister for External Affairs Minister S Jaishanker had flown to Srinagar to meet parents of students stranded in Iran. The Minister had assured the parents that their children would be evacuated from Iran, one of the worst-hit countries by COVID-19.
“Finally it’s a homecoming for us. We are so happy to fly back to Srinagar,” Zaida, a student told NVI over the phone from Jaisalmer, minutes before boarding the IAF plane for Srinagar.
