60 days and counting, Uttarakhand man flying from Tehran in fourth quarantine



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For 25-year-old Praveen Burathi, it has been the longest journey from the Iranian capital Tehran to her home in the Champawat village of Khatoli in Uttarakhand, spanning more than 60 days and four quarantines amid the Covid-19 pandemic. .

And it’s not over yet.

He had been quarantined once in Tehran and twice in Jaisalmer before his fourth quarantine in Champawat began on Tuesday.

Her terrible experience began on February 28 when she went to Tehran airport to take a flight to Delhi.

Burathi, who works as a navigation officer at a shipping company in Tehran, received a two-month license from his company, but the flight on February 28 was canceled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

“I was quarantined for the fourth time in Champawat. It took me about two months to travel 3,551 km from Tehran to Champawat. When I arrived at Tehran airport on February 28, I was informed that the flight to Delhi has been canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak and countries that restrict the movement of people across borders. They told me there was no certainty when the next flight to India would depart, ”said Praveen Burathi.

Burathi said he then contacted the Indian embassy in Tehran. “There, officials informed me that I would be quarantined at a hotel until the next flight is available. I remained in quarantine there until March 14 and my sample was taken by Iranian officials, who tested negative on March 16. “

Finally I boarded the Air India flight to Delhi with 195 other Indians on March 18 from Tehran. After arriving in Delhi, we were taken to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan via two domestic flights and quarantined for 14 days, “said Burathi.

Burathi said that after the end of the quarantine period, his samples were again collected for the Covid-19 test on March 31. “The report was received on April 5, which showed that two people tested positive for Covid-19. So the rest of us were quarantined again for 14 days in the same facility. We completed the second quarantine period on April 19. April, when samples were sent again for testing, ”he said.

“When test reports came out negative on April 23, we were allowed to go home. But it took me three more days to get a pass from the authorities in Jaisalmer. During this, we were allowed to stay downtown. After obtaining a pass, I hired a taxi for Rs 30,000 and left for Champawat, ”said Burathi.

Burathi arrived in Champawat on Tuesday and went directly to the local police station to inform them of his arrival. Given his travel history, he was quarantined again at a local hotel for 14 days.

“If I had gone directly to my village, the police would have taken action against me for concealing my arrival or the villagers could have informed the police. So I thought it was better to approach the police before going to my town, “said Burathi.

“I really want to go home. I am anxiously waiting for this quarantine to end so that I can be with my family. It has been the longest and most exhausting journey of my life, “he said.

Champawat District Medical Director Dr. RP Khanduri said: “The man who came from Iran has been under institutional quarantine at a hotel in Champawat for 14 days.”

“Although we are quarantining people who come from out of state, given this man’s travel history, we are very cautious. After completing his quarantine period, his samples will be sent for analysis. If they are negative, they will send him to his house and they will recommend that he stay at home, ”he said.

In Uttarakhand, where 57 people have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, 11,120 people have been quarantined in their homes and 2,218 have been quarantined in various institutions.

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