China Delays Clearance To IAF Flight With Relief Supplies

Indian Air Force's largest plane C-17 Globemaster was scheduled to fly to Coronavirus affected city Wuhan on Friday to evacuate Indians but it was delayed citing technical issues

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: The Chinese government is 'deliberately delaying grant of clearance for the evacuation flight' which was to fly to Wuhan with medical supplies and bring remaining Indians back, sources said on Saturday. However, China continues to maintain that there is no delay, Even though on Friday, the day the flight was supposed to go to Wuhan, but inexplicably the clearance was not given. Indian Air Force's largest plane C-17 Globemaster was scheduled to fly to Coronavirus affected city Wuhan on Friday to evacuate Indians but it was delayed citing technical issues. IAF's plane was to carry medical supplies to China and then to evacuate remaining Indians from Wuhan. On Friday, the Globemaster could not fly as it could not get clearance from Chinese government. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to Chinese President Xi Jinping conveying solidarity with people and the government of China in meeting the challenges due to coronavirus outbreak. He had also offered to provide relief materials to china. Indian government then put together relief supplies in pursuance of this commitment. However, Chinese government is not giving clearance to Globemaster to take a flight to Wuhan. In the meantime, Indian nationals in Wuhan continue their long wait for the flight which will evacuate them to India. The delay is causing them and their family members in India tremendous mental anguish. They also said while China is not giving clearance to India, evacuation flights from other countries are still going on, including by France.