the goan I network
PANAJI
Nearly 50 Goans who were aboard the Indian Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off Japan due to the Coronavirus scare flew back to Delhi on Wednesday on an Air India plane specially chartered by the Indian government.
Some 138 Indians were on board the Diamond Princess luxury vessel and were in quarantine at the Japanese port of Yokohoma. Sources said, 119 of them including 50 Goans including crew and guests, were on their way back to India.
They were stranded on the ship for 22 days of being stuck inside the highest cluster of positive cases outside China where the biggest global
health scare originated.
According to international media reports, 16 Indians who were on the ship contracted the virus and are undergoing treatment in Tokyo hospitals. Three have opted to stay back in Japan and did not board the plan used by the Indian government to bring them back.
Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar had taken the initiative to contact the Indian Ambassador to Japan and seek assistance for the Goans on board the ship.
