Indian envoy describes evacuation of Indians from virus-hit Wuhan logistical nightmare

India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from coronavirus-hit Hubei province and its capital Wuhan was a logistical nightmare since entire operation h to be done in a region sealed from all sides, Indian Ambassor to China Vikram Misri said on Monday.

As news of outbreak began emerging in middle of January, Indian Embassy stepped up efforts to locate hundreds of Indians, mainly students, residing hundreds of kilometres apart in Hubei province and Wuhan - epicentre of virus outbreak, Misri said.

It was a logistical nightmare as data h to be collected about Indians stranded in virus-hit areas while many left for home for Chinese New Year holidays, he told PTI here.

India issued its first travel visory on January 17 which was followed by more stringent measures including cancellation of visas for Chinese and foreigners travelled to China as virus grew more virulent.

Misri said embassy h to first locate Indian citizens in Hubei province, establish contacts with m, receive ir consent for a 14-day quarantine, followed by most difficult part of operation - to get approvals from China's central, provincial and local governments as city and province were locked down from January 23.

Ahe of first Air India flight on February 1, mission sent two of its diplomats - Deepak Pma Kumar and M Balakrishnan - to Wuhan by ro through Changsha city despite travel bans and fears of virus.

n a large number of buses were hired, permits procured in areas under lock down to transport m to airport which turned out to be a massive exercise. airport was closed from January 23 besides all local transportation.

operations to get permission to operate buses and send m to 40 odd locations to pick up waiting Indians were coordinated by Acqui Vimal, deputy ambassor, and Priyanka Sohoni, First Secretary (Political) in mission.

In some areas, ros were dug up to prevent people's movement and entire operation to pick up students on both days h to be conducted from control room in embassy hundreds of miles away, Misri said.

But 10 Indians could t make it to flight as y were t allowed by Chinese immigration officials to board plane because y h high body temperatures.

Air India's B747 me two flights to Wuhan city - ground zero of coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 900 people, infected 40,000 ors and spre to 25 countries, including India, US and UK.

In first flight, 324 Indians were evacuated and ar 323 Indians and seven Maldivian citizens were flown back in second flight.

Sri Lanka and Banglesh also evacuated ir citizens through special flights. Several hundred Pakistani students are held up still in virus-hit areas as ir government has declined to evacuate m igring ir pleas.

Misri said that about 80 Indians were still in Hubei and embassy is in touch with m through e-mail, social media and phone calls.

embassy has received 28,000 emails and receives about 100 calls a day from Indians who were stranded in Wuhan and Hubei province and has been coordinating with Chinese officials to ensure proper supplies to m.

About chances of ir evacuation, Misri said embassy is exploring all avenues.

(Im Credit: Twitter/ Vikram Misri)