Last group of 310 Ladakhi pilgrims airlifted from Iran

Tribune News Service

JAMMU/LEH, May 17

The last group of 310 Ladakh pilgrims, stranded in Iran’s capital Tehran, reached Leh on Sunday.

These pilgrims reached India by Iran’s private airline, Mahan Air, and were shifted to Leh town in special flights.

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“Of them, at least 254 belonging to Kargil district had earlier tested positive for coronavirus and were staying in Iran for the past 70 days. We have kept them in institutional quarantine where they would again be tested,” Feroz Ahmad Khan, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), Kargil, told The Tribune.

The CEC said, “Now, all stranded pilgrims of Kargil district in foreign nations have been brought back, while we have completed nearly 80 per cent evacuation of our students and people stranded in other parts of the country. The remaining people will be shifted shortly”.

Meanwhile, the CEC of Leh Council, Gyal P Wangyal, said 4,893 Leh residents stranded in various parts of the country have been evacuated via the Leh-Srinagar National Highway in 150 buses, including over 100 private vehicles, till Sunday.

“The administration is providing food and refreshments at the screening centre, Khalsi, and all passengers have been screened of Covid,” he said.