NEW DELHI: Sixteen of the 78 evacuees that landed in India yesterday are Covid-19 positive. Among those infected are three granthis who carried the copies of the Sikh holy scriptures back to India from Kabul. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who received them is also on the contact list.

India repatriated many people safely from Afghanistan through evacuation mission named ‘Operation Devi Shakti'. Apart from Indians, India rescued Afghan nationals and citizens of other countries, including Nepal.

All 78 have been quarantined as a measure of precaution.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State V Muraleedharan received the evacuees at the Indira Gandhi Airport yesterday.