New Delhi: India has begun the process to evacuate from Iran, a coronavirus hotspot, its citizens -- mostly Shia pilgrims from Kargil. A Mahan Air ferry flight is expected to land in Delhi with swab samples of 300 Indians. While this flight will return with Iranians, the swabs of Indians will be tested here. Those found to be coron-free will be flying in on subsequent flights.
"There are about 2,000 Indians, mostly pilgrims from Kargil, in Iran who have to be flown back. There are 2,000 Iranians here who have to fly back to Iran," said DGCA chief Arun Kumar.
Aviation secretary P S Kharola said Iran Air and Mahan Air used to fly to Delhi and Mumbai till February 25 when India stopped these flights due to coronavirus fears. No Indian airline flies to Iran.
"While we sent special Air India flights for evacuation from Wuhan, the situation with Iran is different as these two airlines fly between Tehran and India (unlike Wuhan with which India does not have direct aerial connectivity). We will temporarily allow some flights to operate to fly Indians from Iran back home and Iranians here to Tehran," Kharola said.
06/03/20 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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"There are about 2,000 Indians, mostly pilgrims from Kargil, in Iran who have to be flown back. There are 2,000 Iranians here who have to fly back to Iran," said DGCA chief Arun Kumar.
Aviation secretary P S Kharola said Iran Air and Mahan Air used to fly to Delhi and Mumbai till February 25 when India stopped these flights due to coronavirus fears. No Indian airline flies to Iran.
"While we sent special Air India flights for evacuation from Wuhan, the situation with Iran is different as these two airlines fly between Tehran and India (unlike Wuhan with which India does not have direct aerial connectivity). We will temporarily allow some flights to operate to fly Indians from Iran back home and Iranians here to Tehran," Kharola said.
06/03/20 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
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