Fourth batch of Indians return from Tehran and Shiraz, taking total rescued from Iran to 389; evacuees to be under quarantine at Jaisalmer facility

New Delhi: A fourth batch of 53 Indians returned to India from Iran on Monday, taking the total number of people evacuated from the coronavirus-hit country to 389.

This comes a day after over 230 Indians were brought back from Iran to New Delhi and quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre in Jaisalmer, the third batch to be evacuated from that country. “Fourth batch of 53 Indians - 52 students and a teacher - has arrived from Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. With this, a total of 389 Indians have returned to India from Iran,” Jaishankar tweeted .

The Indians came in a Mahan Air flight that landed at the Delhi airport at around 3 am, officials said, adding that they were later taken to Jaisalmer in an Air India flight for being quarantined.

Rajasthan: 53 Indians, evacuated from Tehran and Shiraz cities of Iran, arrived at Jaisalmer airport today. They were later moved to the Army Wellness Centre in the city, following preliminary screening. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/Fnrr0nLfMn

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2020

Defence spokesperson Colonel Sombit Ghosh said, “Preliminary screening of the persons was undertaken at the airport upon arrival. Thereafter, they were moved to the Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer.”

The first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims were brought back from Iran last Tuesday and the second group of 44 Indian pilgrim arrived from there on Friday.

Iran is one of the worst-affected countries by the coronavirus outbreak and the government has been working to bring back Indians stranded there. Over 700 people have died from the disease in Iran and nearly 14,000 cases have been detected.

Jaishankar had told Rajya Sabha last week that the government was focusing on evacuating Indians stranded in Iran and Italy as these countries are facing an “extreme situation”.