Desperate call to evacuate Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran

New Delhi : Iran has requested India to urgently evacuate stranded Indians in the country amid rising number of coronavirus cases.

The communication was made in a note verbale issued by the Iranian embassy in Delhi on Saturday.

"It is reminded to kind attention of the esteemed Ministry the necessity for taking immediate and prompt action for transfer of the nationals of both countries who have been affected as a result of the existing limitations," says the note.

The note follows after the reports which claimed that India has suspended all its international flights to Iran temporarily as a security measure. More than 200 Indians in Iran and over 300 Iranians were reported to be affected by the flight restriction.

The note says Iran expects India to also facilitate transfer of Iranian nationals to their parent country. It further asks India to ensure that they are properly screened for the virus that had taken 34 lives in Iran as per the latest official figures quoted by a news agency.

Indian government is yet to make an official statement on the note.

Iran has maximum number of coronavirus cases outside China where the infection had originated. According to the Iranian health ministry figures released on Friday, coronavirus had claimed the lives of 34 Iranians and over 388 citizens, including four parliament members, had been diagnosed positive for the infection.