End of terrifying days for 46 Indian nurses and 137 other Indians

The 46 Indian nurses along with some 137 other Indians who were trapped in Iraq reached India early this morning. At 8:43 am the flight landed in Mumbai for refuelling purpose. And then by 9:25, it flew for Kochi.

At 12 this noon, the flight landed at Kochi airport where families of these 46 nurses were jubilantly waiting for their arrival. The Kerala Chief Minister  Oommen Chandy was also present there to welcome these nurses. Security was tightened at the airport there in Kochi. He had earlier thanked Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while talking to NDTV. News reports claimed that a massive reception was arranged for these nurses.

Nurses were welcomed by bouquets at the airport. Also, an amount of INR 5000 will be given to each nurse. Speaking to News Channel Headlines Today, Kerala Chief Minister said that he was in constant contact with the nurses.

From Kochi, the flight has left for Hyderabad for where the other Indians have boarded the aircraft. Finally, from Hyderabad, the flight will flow to New Delhi.

• From Iraq to India.

Amidst increasing tension in Iraq, this relief news came in as the ISIS freed 46 Indian nurses from its captive in Iraq. This happened nearly a month after conditions in Iraq turned hostile.

All the 46 Indian nurses and other 137 Indians had safely boarded the flight yesterday. An Air India Special Air craft Boeing 777 had left from New Delhi yesterday to their rescue along with a Joint Secretary level officer on board to ensure coordination between the Indian Government and the Kurdish authorities as well as aviation authorities.

This flight reached Erbil, a non-conflict zone, yesterday night.

• Applause for MEA but 39 still trapped.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed this development yesterday, with its Official National Spokesperson Mr. Syed Akbaruddin saying, “It has been a day of dramatic developments. It has been a day when we started with some of you thinking that we were moving towards a hopeless end, but there were others like us who were full of endless hope. Ultimately, it is hope that has triumphed.I can confirm to you that those Indian nurses who were yesterday moved against their will are now free. They are in touch with our Embassy officials who are positioned in Erbil for just this eventuality.”

Addressing the press at a media briefing yesterday, he added, “We had envisaged this earlier and, therefore, had sent our officials from Baghdad to Erbil to ensure that if this option was going to happen, they would be available to receive them. They are now in contact with those Indian nurses. The process is under way for their return to India.

The Ministry of External Affairs too was trying its best to rescue these nurses. According to NDTV, 10,000 Indians worked in Iraq out of which some of them have left the country following the crisis.

There are still some Indian’s trapped in the conflict-torn zone. Even though these 46 nurses and 137 other Indians have been rescued, there are more 39 abducted Indians who are stranded in Iraq. The task of rescuing the Indian Nationals from Iraq is being dealt very seriously by the Ministry.

• About the Author

About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash