New Delhi, March 1: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said the government was working with Tehran to bring back Indians stranded in Iran. The minister said he would personally track the matter after several Indians or their relatives appealed to the government to intervene.
Iran has asked India to immediately evacuate its nationals after the coronavirus-induced death toll in the West Asian country touched 50 with over 500 infected. Hundreds of Indians working or visiting Iran have been stuck after India temporary cancelled all flights from Iran where coronavirus is shaping up to be as deadly as in China. Among the infected are vice-president, deputy health minister and a former diplomat.
The Iranians submitted a note verbale to the Ministry of External Affairs here seeking immediate action on the transfer of nationals of both countries. In an attempt to restart the flights, New Delhi assured that it has in place all procedures to screen exiting passengers for coronavirus. Since it is India that has suspended the flights, Iran also wants action to transfer its nationals stuck here.
Indian ambassador Damu Gaddam had said the mission in Tehran was working to facilitate the return of those Indians wishing to go back home. Discussions are underway with the authorities concerned to work out arrangements, he had said. Three categories of Indians are stranded in Iran — students, pilgrims and workers — all of whom have asked the Indian government to make arrangements to evacuate them.
In a social media post, Anwaar Khan has complained that his parents from Nagpur had gone to visit a shrine in Mashad and were to return after 10 days on February 28. However, on reaching Tehran they were told their flight had been cancelled, leaving them adrift. Tushar Ingole is among 60 Indians working in Esfahan who have appealed to the Indian Government to evacuate them as have several students from Kashmir. Ihsan Ali from Kargil is worried about his mother and other pilgrims who are in Iran. Faisal is among 15 Indians working for a software company in Tehran who are also desperate to return to India due to the coronavirus scare. —
