Srinagar, Apr 21 (KNS): A batch of 180 people which includes students, pilgrims today reached J&K in a Globe master Aircraft.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam Tariq Hussain Ganie confirmed their arrival. He added that they were strandes in different parts of country and outside after lockdown was announced.
Meanwhile, the first batch of 1,200 people were brought back from Punjab on Monday.
Official told KNS that Jammu and Kashmir administration has started to airlift dozens of students and pilgrims from several parts of Country who were stranded there from weeks due to current lockdown situation.
He said 53 students who were stranded in Jaisalmeer, 40 from Tehran returned today in special flight and others were Gaziabad UP where they had completed quarantine period.
Official added that the next batch of stranded Kashmiri’s will be evacuated tomorrow and administration is actively pursuing return of every stranded person.
It is pertinent to mention that in wake of countrywide lockdown, parents and relatives of several students, laborers and traders who got stuck outside UT amid strict restrictions organized protests and demanded their return in wake of Covid-19 scare.
Meanwhile Over 50 pilgrims from Kargil who had been quarantined in Iran returned back to Kargil through a special flight.Scores of pilgrims from Kargil are stranded in Iran-the country that has badly hit due to Coronavirus.
Notably, a couple of persons from Kargil died in Iran due to Covid-19.
Meanwhile J&K Lt Governor G C Murmu had told media that over 350 students and nearly 40,000 labourers are stranded outside the Union Territory due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
He said all those returning to the Union Territory (UT) will be tested and home quarantined.
“We have decided that all those who will be brought back will have to undergo testing. They will be sent to home quarantine,” Murmu told Delhi based media outlet on the strategy formulated by his administration to deal with the large number of people stranded outside the UT
“If they have not been screened and tested in those places, then they will come back here and affect the families and people around them. So testing is must,” he added. On the steps taken for the safe return of those belonging to the UT and stuck in various countries due to the pandemic, the Lieutenant Governor said, “We have talked to the Ministry of External Affairs about the matter. We have requested them to carry out evacuation in Bangladesh, Iran and other countries. Most of them have been brought back.”
He said a large number of students belonging to the Union Territory were stranded in various states due to the lockdown. “We have evacuated them. They were put in quarantine in Mumbai, Jaisalmir etc,” he said, adding others are stranded in Bangalore, Chennai, Noida and Agra. “We have a list of 350 students still stuck outside the Union Territory.
We have given them assurance that once the lockdown ends, they will be brought back,” he said. “We are also identifying labourers of J&K stranded in other states. Over 30,000 to 40,000 labourers are out of Jammu and Kashmir. Some of them want to come back. We will see (how they can be brought back after lockdown ends),” he was quoted
Families and politicians have been demanding return of workers, students, pilgrims who are stuck in different parts of country and outside. (KNS)