NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JUNE 9
INS Shardul departed from the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran on Monday evening with 233 Indians, most of them are fishermen from Valsad in Gujarat, who are being evacuated under Operation Samudra Setu, a Defence spokesman said.
#SamudraSetu– भारतीय नौसेना @indiannavy , ईरान इस्लामी गणतंत्र से नागरिकों को स्वदेश लायेगी#Iran इस्लामी गणतंत्र स्थित भारतीय मिशन, भारतीय नागरिकों की सूची तैयार कर रहा है
विवरण: https://t.co/y5msSzREph pic.twitter.com/0qI2BR8dMz
— पीआईबी हिंदी (@PIBHindi) June 8, 2020
“Under Operation Samudra Setu, Indian Naval Ship Shardul evacuated Indian citizens on 8 June 2020 from the port of Bandar Abbas, Islamic Republic of Iran, to Porbandar, Gujarat. It will reach Porbandar on June 11,” the Navy stated.
#IndianNavy Evacuation of Indians fm Bandar Abbas Iran 2 Porbandar #Gujarat #INSShardul cast off with 233 Indian Nationals. Expected to arrive on 11 Jun 2020 at Porbandar #OpSamudraSetu
@SpokespersonMoD @indiannavy @PIBAhmedabad @DDNewsGujarati @ani @PTI_News @InfoGujarat pic.twitter.com/29R9alR4VP— PRO Defence Gujarat (@DefencePRO_Guj) June 8, 2020
The evacuation is part of Operation Samudra Setu, which is itself a part of the Vande Bharat Mission that began in early May to bring back stranded Indians from abroad amid the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.
Op #SamudraSetu.#INSShardul in Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Pre-embarkation preparations by ship's crew, checks, briefings followed by embarkation being progressed.#हरकामदेशकेनाम#IndiaFightsCorona#MissionVandeBharat#MoDAgainstCorona@SpokespersonMoD @India_in_Iran @DefenceMinIndia https://t.co/qGSt3YE2tY pic.twitter.com/HdZ3Ug2eFS— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 8, 2020
INS Jalashwa and INS Magar have already evacuated 2,874 personnel from Maldives and Sri Lanka to ports of Kochi and Tuticorin, the Navy said in its statement.
“The Indian Mission in the Islamic Republic of Iran helped in preparing a list of Indian citizens to be evacuated and will facilitate their embarkation after the requisite medical screening,” it added.
Operation Samudra Setu began on May 8.
COVID-related social distancing norms have been catered onboard INS Shardul and the ship has been especially provisioned for the evacuation operation, including embarkation of additional medical staff, rations, personal protective equipment, masks, lifesaving gear, the Navy said.
The evacuated personnel would be provided the basic amenities and medical facilities whilst undertaking the sea passage to Porbandar, it stated.
“Special isolation compartments have also been earmarked for any contingencies. In view of the unique challenges associated with COVID-19, including asymptomatic carriers, stringent protocols are being stipulated during the passage,” it added.
After disembarkation at Porbandar, the evacuated personnel will be entrusted to the care of state authorities, it said.
