Published 20:41 IST, February 26th 2020
Indians aboard Diamond Princess cruise board Air India flight, to be brought to Delhi
Indian passengers and crew members who were stranded on the Diamond Princess cruise in Japan, on Wednesday boarded an Air India flight to Delhi
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After being quarantined for over 23 days in Japan, all Indian Crew members and passengers aboard the Diamond Princess Cruise boarded an Air India flight, sent by the government of India on Wednesday. The passengers and crew will be brought to Delhi first.
Indian crew and passengers from cruise ship Diamond Princess have boarded an Air India flight, sent by the govt of India, to come to Delhi. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/dVbbb0Ko8F
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2020
The news of Indians returning from Japan was also confirmed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. The Maharashtra BJP leader had taken to his official Twitter handle on Wednesday and had written about Indians aboard Diamond Princess cruise safely boarding the Chartered Air India flight.
Sonali Thakkar (who was quarantine on cruise at Yokohama) Father Dinesh Thakkar inform Me, Sonali & Other 137 Indian (Passenger/Crew) of Corona affected, Cruise Diamond Princess, are boarded on Indian Govt Chartered Plane Air India to come to Delhi @BJP4India @BJP4Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/8bB3hwEAqJ
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) February 26, 2020
138 Indians were quarantined in Japan
A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people, onboard the ship when it docked at the Yokohama port, near Tokyo, on February 3. It was quarantined after a passenger who disembarked last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the disease. The ship has the largest cluster of COVID-19 cases outside China. Two former passengers of the ship have also died.
Coronavirus outbreak
The new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has claimed more than 2,600 lives across the globe and has infected more than 81,000 people since December 2019. The virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city, where animals were being traded illegally. Hubei province in China has been most affected by the contagious disease, which is also the epicentre of the virus.
Coronavirus has claimed more lives than its predecessor Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). According to reports, SARS, which broke out in China in 2002-2003 had claimed more than 774 lives, which is way below the current death toll from COVID-19.
(with inputs from agencies)
20:41 IST, February 26th 2020