MUMBAI: As the coronavirus scare spreads, Mumbai resident Shaikh Jalal desperately awaits the return of his wife Zahida Nasreen and daughter Zainab from Iran, where they have been stuck since February 27. Nasreen and Zainab were part of a group of 12 pilgrims who left for Iran on February 18 and were told to stay back on February 27, a day before they were to catch flight to Mumbai. All of the group, except the two, have returned.
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“On February 27, the group was told the flight was cancelled due to the outbreak of the epidemic. They were at Qom, the holy city some 144km from Tehran. They then reached Tehran and were put up in a hotel,” said Jalal. “After three days, the hotel told pilgrims they could not stay further as the authorities told the management to get the hotel vacated. A person known to us arranged for my wife and daughter’s stay at a small hotel,” he added.
Jalal said there was chaos and confusion in Iran as many Indian pilgrims had to pay Rs80,000-85,000 per passenger for their journey home. He said Indian embassy officials took swab sample of his daughter and wife and sent them to Pune for tests. He said he had to sent an additional Rs12,000 for hotel accommodation and food as his wife and daughter ran short of money. “I am worried. If they test positive, will they be isolated in Iran, which doesn’t have adequate facilities. If all passengers coming to India are to be quarantined, why those stuck in Iran are not allowed to board planes and return?” he asked.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that there are over 6,000 Indians in Iran, who include 1,100 pilgrims, of whom some are from Maharashtra. Protocol will be followed to ensure their evacuation, he added.
Coronavirus outbreak live updates
“On February 27, the group was told the flight was cancelled due to the outbreak of the epidemic. They were at Qom, the holy city some 144km from Tehran. They then reached Tehran and were put up in a hotel,” said Jalal. “After three days, the hotel told pilgrims they could not stay further as the authorities told the management to get the hotel vacated. A person known to us arranged for my wife and daughter’s stay at a small hotel,” he added.
Jalal said there was chaos and confusion in Iran as many Indian pilgrims had to pay Rs80,000-85,000 per passenger for their journey home. He said Indian embassy officials took swab sample of his daughter and wife and sent them to Pune for tests. He said he had to sent an additional Rs12,000 for hotel accommodation and food as his wife and daughter ran short of money. “I am worried. If they test positive, will they be isolated in Iran, which doesn’t have adequate facilities. If all passengers coming to India are to be quarantined, why those stuck in Iran are not allowed to board planes and return?” he asked.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that there are over 6,000 Indians in Iran, who include 1,100 pilgrims, of whom some are from Maharashtra. Protocol will be followed to ensure their evacuation, he added.
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