(Image source from: indiatoday.in)

An aircraft of the Indian Air Force IAF C- 17 has evacuated a group of 112 Indians and the foreign nationals from the Wuhan city of China which is said to be the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus, on Thursday during the early hours of the day.

The Indian Air Force aircraft has also evacuated people from the other nationalities besides the Indian nationals as it has also evacuated a dozen more people from four other countries of Bangladesh, South Africa, Madagascar and Maldives. It has been said that the majority of the students among the people of other nationals were from Bangladesh.

The flight has also contained of a group of citizens of China who were the OCI card holders.

Among all the Indians who were present in the Wuhan city of China, around 25- 30 Indian nationals are remaining in the city of Wuhan of their own volition.

Vikram Misri who is the Indian ambassador to China has stated were in he has mentioned that the Indian Air Force aircraft has carried 76 Indian nationals returning home and the aircraft has also boarded 23 nationals from Bangladesh, 6 nationals from China, two from Myanmar, two from Maldives and one each from the countries of South Africa, United States of America and Madagascar.

All the people who have been evacuated would now have to undergo the mandatory quarantine period for two weeks at the facilities which have been set up in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force aircraft which has evacuated people from the Wuhan city of China had taken 15 tonnes medical supplies to the city in order to aid the people suffering from the deadly coronavirus in China.

As per the reports by the authorities of China, the deadly coronavirus which has been named as COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 2718 people until now and 78196 have been infected with the virus.

A statement which was made by the government of India has stated that the medical supplies that have been sent to the coronavirus- hit city of Wuhan in the Hubei Province has comprised of masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment.

It has also said that, “This assistance has been provided in the wake the Corona virus (COVID 19) outbreak in China and the request by China to provide supplies such as masks and medical equipment.”

The Wuhan city of China is said to be the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus which has been named as COVID- 19 as it has been first observed in the Wuhan city on 31st of December in the previous year and it had spread rapidly to several people.

The deadly COVID- 19 has been claiming lives of several people and has been infecting many more as it has spread to over 37 countries claiming lives of more than 2,600 as it has infected more than 80,000 in the past few months.

By Shrithika Kushangi