THOOTHUKUDI, Tamil Nadi, India - The Indian Navy Ship Jalashwa, carrying 687 stranded citizens, including two women, arrived in Tuticorin harbour on Wednesday after a one week voyage from Iran.

The 687 Indian nationals, many of whom are fishermen, were evacuated from the port of Bandar Abbas, in Iran last Monday 25 June.

On arrival the evacuees went through medical screening. The Indian Navy said Covid-19 safety protocols were adhered to during the sea-passage.

The evacuees were received by personnel from the Indian Navy and state government authorities at Tuticorin harbour in the port city of Thoothukudi, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and arrangements were in place for speedy disembarkation, health screening, and transportation of the evacuees to their homes. With the completion of this operation the Indian Navy has evacuated around 4,000 Indian citizens from the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran and brought them home to India..

Prior to taking on board the evacuees in Iran, the Navy says the crew of INS Jalashwa undertook preparatory activities which included sanitisation and preparation of living spaces for evacuees, preparation of welcome kits comprising masks and toiletries, followed by allocation of bunks as per a passenger manifest provided by the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

The ship also handed over two Air Evacuation Pods indigenously developed by the Indian Navy, to the Iranian authorities.

Living spaces onboard Jalashwa were divided into three zones, while adhering to COVID-19 precautions, with zones earmarked for embarked personnel as well as the ship's crew who would come in contact with them.

The ship sailed out of Bandar Abbas late Monday night (25 June) under Operation Samudra Setu.