COVID-19: 254 out of 850 Ladakh pilgrims infected in Iran

SRINAGAR — Out of over 850 Kargil pilgrims stranded in Iran, over 254 are infected with COVID-19 and so far, three elderly pilgrims have died.

Two have died of Coronavirus while one elderly person died due to cardiac arrest, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Chief Executive Councillor, Kargil said.

Khan said that the Kargil pilgrims are stranded in Quom city of Iran while in a couple of days, these pilgrims will be airlifted by Iran’s Mahan Airways in collaboration with Government of India. He, however, added that those who have been infected in Iran with the virus may not be brought back.

“The Centre has adopted a policy to not bring back those who have tested positive for the Coronavirus infection,” Khan said.

Quom city of Iran is the epicentre of the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease, which has so far reported over 20,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,500 deaths.

Khan identified the trio, who have died in Iran, as Ghulam Murtaza of Skambo village, Syed Muhammad of GM Pore village and Ali Muhammad from Chanigund area of Kargil.

Scores of pilgrims, who have already returned from Iran, have been quarantined. Among these, 13 were found to be positive.

Jammu and Kashmir has already sealed its border with Ladakh to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Leh police has booked a youth under relevant sections for sharing an inflammatory voice audio on WhatsApp, in which he blamed a particular community for the spread of this virus in Ladakh region.