Wuhan-returned Indians lining up get medical certificate declaring them free of coronavirus before leaving ITBP quarantine facility on the outskirts of Delhi (PTI)

There was cheer in the ITBP camp in Chhawla on the outskirts of Delhi as nearly half of the Indian citizens under quarantine were told that they were free to go, with a certificate of health provided by the medical team.

The Indian government had evacuated 650 Indians and seven Maldivians from Wuhan after the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. Since then, for 409 of them a make shift camp created by the ITBP had been their home. But on Monday, nearly 200 residents were given okay to leave the camp. Among them were a number of students, professors, Yoga teachers and businesspersons.

One of the youngest of the lot is two-year-old Inaya Bhandari, who was bundled up and brought back to India by her parents on the first rescue flight on February 1. Inaya's parents Dhirendra and Nutan Bhandari are both yoga teachers in Wuhan, China. Their classes were a rage.

But recounting her experience, Nutan said, "We were hearing of coronavirus since December 2019, it wasn't bad then. But by January end, things were serious and we reached out to the Indian Embassy in China. They were prompt and helpful."

"The Indian team was helpful, so were the Chinese counterparts who kept us aware of the situation," she said.

The entire family was evacuated from Wuhan, and after 17 days of quarantine at the ITBP Chhawla facility, they have been given the green signal to go home.

"With the small baby, things were tougher. From January 23 onwards, when their new year began, everything was shut down. The metro was shut, the airport was shut only small shops remained open and we could get food items," Nutan recalled.

Anamika, another Yoga teacher from Uttrakhand, had been in Wuhan for only three months. Her classes were just picking up when she had to pack her bags and leave. She said, "I had a short time there, but i will get back to business. It is competitive there. I know there are online classes, but I believe Yoga is best taught in person. I will spend some time here before I go back."

Another couple -- Dr Shweta and Dr Atul -- teach medicine in Wuhan. Both said, "We were lucky we got here. But we didn't think things were so bad, as it was on social media. There were so many videos that say people are being killed, which is not true. The Chinese government was keeping us apprised of the situation."

"But we are grateful to the Indian government who got us here. But our lives belong there, so whenever things settle down, we will head back," Dr Atul said.

Students leaving the ITBP quarantine facility after getting negative in coronavirus test (PTI)

A group of Kashmiri students is also ready to leave the ITBP camp after quarantine. Among them is 20-year-old Nousheen Nabi, a third-year medical student in Hubi. Nousheen is from Budgam.

"I feel proud to be Indian. I am an Indian passport holder. There were several students from Pakistan, Sudan and Egypt, who got no help from their country and were left stranded. While Indians were the first to be evacuated. We were taken on board from Air India by the Indian government, and we were well looked after by ITBP," Nousheen said.

She says she is in touch with her parents on the phone. "Like some other students, we can't chat on Skype or chat, we are still on the phone with parents. But I am happy to be going back," Nousheen said.

Recalling her time in Wuhan, she said, "The highways had been closed using sand bags and stones. And no movement was being allowed."

Nausheen is like the 32 other Kashmiri students, who are now ready to go home after a team of doctors screened them thrice for coronavirus and found the reports negative.

Another student in Kashmir recalled, "First our Chinese friends used to message about how bad the situation was outside the university campus. Then university officials announced closure. We weren't allowed to go anywhere. The mess was open only because of us and food would be left outside our rooms. It was scary," the student said.

Chief Medical Officer at ITBP camp, Dr AP Joshi, said the assignment has been tough, "We were given two days to get this facility ready. There was no electricity and water connection then. The building was barely ready. But things have gone off well."

Dr Harshvardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, visited the ITBP facility and met the housed people and team of ITBP doctors and staff taking care of the group. Interacting with media there he said, "We are sending additional flights to Wuhan to get more Indians after the current residents vacate. We are trying to reach out to as many people as possible. We are ensuring that there is no spread of the virus. There are only three cases of coronavirus in India, all in Kerala."

As residents walked out of the ITBP camp, they were given a rose and a calendar to mark their memory and time spent in quarantine. A virus may have brought them together, but this gave them an opportunity to make new friends. A bond many vow to keep, when they return to Wuhan.