Coronavirus: Govt begins collecting passport details of Indians in China

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 27

As China confirmed 80 deaths from the deadly coronavirus, India began preparations for the potential evacuation of its residents in China, where the disease continues to spread.

The Indian Mission in China is in the process of collecting details of stranded Indians and on Monday reached out to those Indians in China who don’t have physical possession of their passports.

“We have learnt that some of the Indian nationals are currently not in possession of their passports, which have been submitted to Chinese authorities for visa extension/ work permit/ other reasons. All those presently in Hubei province and not in personal possession of their passports are requested to intimate us with the following details: Name; Passport number; To whom (which Chinese authority) has the passport been submitted to; and Date on which the passport was submitted. These details may please be furnished urgently to Mr. Sondhi, who is an official with @EOIBeijing (WeChat ID: sondhi_0808),” the Indian Mission in China tweeted a while ago tagging External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in an indication that evacuation measures were underway.

... These details may please be furnished urgently to Mr. Sondhi, who is an official with @EOIBeijing (WeChat ID: sondhi_0808)@VikramMisri @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @SecySanjay @CPVIndia @cgiguangzhou @IndiaInShanghai @CGIHongKong

— India in China (@EOIBeijing) January 27, 2020

The Mission also asked Indian nationals in Wuhan/Hubei province to inform @EOIBeijing twitter handle if they encounter a shortage of food, water and other essential supplies and provide with their exact location so that @EOIBeijing could work with the Chinese authorities to ensure that such essential supplies are sustained.

Q: What can I do to protect myself from #coronavirus?

A: https://t.co/PKzKaO2yfK pic.twitter.com/eNhlhR0PEq

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 17, 2020

The Health Ministry meanwhile stepped up surveillance efforts as Nepal confirmed one n-COV case Sunday.

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries and the DGPs of five states bordering Nepal to review preparedness.

Secretary National Disaster Management Authority Ajay Bhalla and health secretaries of other states also participated.

WHO, meanwhile, issued video guidance for people on how to protect themselves from the virus whose source remains unknown.

#CoronavirusOutbreak Update

We are on the job!

EAM @DrSJaishankar is closely monitoring the stituation. @EOIBeijing is in close touch with Indian citizens, including university students, in Wuhan & elsewhere in Hubei Province in China. (1/5) https://t.co/9fGhUJihqq

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 26, 2020

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