- By James Kuanal
- Sun, 22 Mar 2020 10:05 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: A special Air India flight carrying 263 students from the virus-hit Italy landed in Delhi on Sunday, reported news agency ANI. All precautions being exercised and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling passengers being followed. The evacuees are being taken to be taken to ITBP Chhawla Quarantine Facility in Delhi, after thermal screening and immigration at the airport.
"All the 263 people are being taken to our quarantine centre in Chhawla area of south-west Delhi after thermal screening and immigration at the tarmac," an ITBP spokesperson told PTI.
In a tweet post, the Embassy of India in Italy wrote, "263 Indian students and compassionate cases departed for India by special Air India flight from Rome fulfilling our commitment to ensure their safe return home. Sincere folded hands to Air India and Italian authorities."
Earlier on Wednesday, it had said it was assisting over 300 Indian students stranded in Rome and nearby areas amid coronavirus outbreak which has affected nearly 28,000 people in the European country.
"We are doing all that is possible within our limited resources, despite the current lock-down, to support and assist more than 300 Indian students in Rome and nearby areas. Their swab tests have been taken over the weekend and reports are awaited," read a tweet by the Indian Embassy in Rome.
The government of India had earlier evacuated 218 people from Milan.
In Italy, the outbreak killed as many as 793 people in the last 24 hours. The total number of fatalities swelled by more than 4800.
Globally, coronavirus has so far claimed the lives of 11,000 people with more than 2,66,000 confirm cases of COVID-19, as per the latest data shared by the WHO.
In India, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 315 on Saturday as India reported over 60 fresh cases from various parts of the country.
(with agency inputs)
