India on Thursday sent an aircraft to evacuate its nationals from coronavirus-hit Wuhan and deliver a consignment of medical supplies to China. In the meantime, India has also issued a fresh travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Korea, Iran and Italy due to incidences of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in those countries.

Sources said that an Indian Air Force special flight carrying around 15 tons of medical assistance comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment has departed for Wuhan. This assistance has been provided in the wake of  the Corona virus outbreak in China and the request by the neighbouring country to provide medical supplies.

The Flight will bring back over 80 Indians and around 40 citizens from neighbouring countries on February 27, the sources said. Meanwhile, the ITBP officials said that quarantine facility is ready  to receive the Indians and foreigners who are being evacuated from Wuhan.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing the solidarity of India and also offered assistance to the affected country. The medical supplies will help augment China's efforts to control the outbreak of this infection which has been declared as a Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organisation.

A few days back, India had flown back two batches of evacuees from China, comprising 640 Indians and seven Maldivian nationals. Most of them were students studying medicine there.

They were taken directly to two special quarantine facilities on arrival. All of them have been discharged after testing negative for the virus.

In the meantime, India has issued a travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Korea, Iran and Italy due to incidences of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in those countries.

The new travel advisory, issued on Thursday will be applicable along with the existing advisories against travel to China. In addition, people coming from Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy or having such travel history since 10 February may be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India, the advisory said.