'Mission Completed': S Jaishankar after airlifting 58 Indian pilgrims from Iran

After the Indian authorities successfully airlifted 58 Indian pilgrims that were stuck in Iran due to Coronavirus, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar apprised about the successful landing of the aircraft in Hindon.  Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the Government of India sent IAF C-17 Globemaster military aircraft to rescue stranded citizens from Iran. Earlier, the government had also sent a military aircraft to China to evacuate the Indian citizens form Wuhan, the epicentre of Coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar asserted the mission to be completed and wrote, "The IAF has landed. Mission completed. On to the next'. The tweet also hints the government's plan to rescue Indians all around the world who are stranded due to the Coronavirus outbreak. 

The aircraft left for Tehran at around 8 pm on March 9 and reached out to the Indian Embassy there to bring back the stranded citizens. The government had also directed paramilitary forces to set up quarantine facilities for the students and pilgrims who will be brought back from Iran. 

READ: Iran releases 70,000 prisoners in bid to contain coronavirus outbreak

READ: Coronavirus India Live Updates: India's total reaches 43 as four new cases emerge

India's Coronavirus count rises 

On Monday, the government revealed that positive cases of the novel Coronavirus in India had soared up to 47 after two new cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in Pune. Apart from this, 15 people are under observation for the virus in Maharashtra, however, no positive cases have been detected yet. 

Out of the 47, 44 are active cases, the initial three which were reported from Kerala have been treated and discharged. The health ministry has advised people against mass gatherings to avoid the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

READ: India's C-17 to fly to Coronavirus-struck Iran to rescue stranded students & pilgrims

READ: 58 Indian pilgrims airlifted from Iran amidst Coronavirus outbreak, EAM Jaishankar tweets