No COVID Case Among 78 Evacuated From Afghanistan to Delhi: ITBP

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had received the returnees, who included three granthis, at the airport.

16 Afghanistan evacuees out of the 78 persons who were were flown to India on Tuesday, 24 August, have tested positive for COVID-19.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Arindam Bagchi)

There are no COVID-19 positive cases out of 78 Afghanistan evacuees who were flown to India on Tuesday, tweeted the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Wednesday, 25 August.

The ITBP's statement comes amid reports claiming that sixteen of the 78 persons had tested positive.

The ITBP further said that the 78 evacuees were shifted to ITBP's Chhawla based camp till Tuesday late night, and of the total evacuees, 24 are Indians and 54 Afghan nationals. Further, 53 are males, 14 females and 11 children.

"All had gone through COVID-19 test at IGI Airport and are reported negative," the ITBP said.

An Air India flight from Dushanbe to Delhi carried 78 passengers, who were evacuated from Kabul on an IAF aircraft, the Ministry of External Affairs had stated on Tuesday.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri Receives the Contingent at the Airport

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who had received the contingent of returnees at the airport, had carried the holy scriptures on his head as a gesture of reverence, a video shared by the minister shows.

India's Evacuation Operations

The Indian government, on 16 August, had initiated 'Operation Devi Shakti' to evacuate Indians from Kabul.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement on 16 August, had said that it was in touch with the Indian nationals in the country who wished to return.

"We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan, Sikh, and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan. There are also a number of Afghans who have been our partners in the promotion of our mutual development, educational and people to people endeavours. We will stand by them."

Ministry of External Affairs

A total of 626 persons, including 228 Indian citizens, have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far, Puri has indicated. Of these, 77 evacuees belong to the Sikh community.

(With inputs from NDTV)