NEW DELHI/MARGAO: Close to 240 Indians have been evacuated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan and cruise liner Diamond Princess, moored off the coast of Japan, in two separate operations by India. Nearly 100 Indians — a mix crowd of students and professionals — boarded a military transport aircraft from the Wuhan airport late on Wednesday. Among their co-passengers were citizens from several other countries as India had offered to evacuate those from neighbouring nations, depending on the availability of space. These included people from Myanmar, Tanzania, South Africa, Maldives, over a dozen from Bangladesh, Chinese spouses of Indians and one person from the US featured on the list.
Members of the group said they landed in Delhi on Thursday morning and were now at the quarantine facility in Chhawla on the outskirts of Delhi.
This came even as the evacuation of 138 Indians onboard Diamond Princess brought cheer to families undergoing an agonising wait in India. The cruise ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan since February 3 after several passengers, including 16 Indians, were found positive. An Air India aircraft carrying the passengers, which included at least 51 Goans, was also expected to land in New Delhi late on Wednesday.
“It’s a great relief to finally return to our country and families. Amid looming threat of contracting the virus, many among us were on the verge of depression. We are thankful to the government,” Dhanesh Raikar from Goa's Chinchinim had told TOI from Japan’s Haneda airport.
Indians in Wuhan also expressed their gratitude at being able to “breathe the outside air”. Cars and buses had picked them up on Wednesday and taken them to the airport so they could catch the only flight running that day — the Indian Air Force’s biggest plane C-17 Globemaster — which would take them to Delhi.
“I feel like a caged bird that’s been freed,” said an employee at a biopharma company soon after he passed the thermal screening, the last step before he could board the plane. Just moments ago, there was a reunion of sorts as he bumped into a former colleague. There were no hugs or handshakes but both made sure to use dollops of disinfectants after their short meeting. “I’m so relieved that I get to leave but the period I spent in isolation has left me in trauma. I will seek counselling once I’m out of quarantine,” he said.
An Indian scientist said he wanted to leave behind what had happened and was looking forward to meet his family. “Now that the uncertainty is over, my mind is free," he said.
Members of the group said they landed in Delhi on Thursday morning and were now at the quarantine facility in Chhawla on the outskirts of Delhi.
This came even as the evacuation of 138 Indians onboard Diamond Princess brought cheer to families undergoing an agonising wait in India. The cruise ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan since February 3 after several passengers, including 16 Indians, were found positive. An Air India aircraft carrying the passengers, which included at least 51 Goans, was also expected to land in New Delhi late on Wednesday.
“It’s a great relief to finally return to our country and families. Amid looming threat of contracting the virus, many among us were on the verge of depression. We are thankful to the government,” Dhanesh Raikar from Goa's Chinchinim had told TOI from Japan’s Haneda airport.
Indians in Wuhan also expressed their gratitude at being able to “breathe the outside air”. Cars and buses had picked them up on Wednesday and taken them to the airport so they could catch the only flight running that day — the Indian Air Force’s biggest plane C-17 Globemaster — which would take them to Delhi.
“I feel like a caged bird that’s been freed,” said an employee at a biopharma company soon after he passed the thermal screening, the last step before he could board the plane. Just moments ago, there was a reunion of sorts as he bumped into a former colleague. There were no hugs or handshakes but both made sure to use dollops of disinfectants after their short meeting. “I’m so relieved that I get to leave but the period I spent in isolation has left me in trauma. I will seek counselling once I’m out of quarantine,” he said.
An Indian scientist said he wanted to leave behind what had happened and was looking forward to meet his family. “Now that the uncertainty is over, my mind is free," he said.
Download The Times of India News App for Latest India News.
more from times of india news
Get the app