46 Indian nurses to arrive home this afternoon

The 46 Indian nurses who were being held captive in Iraq are expected to reach home at around 11.45 am today. The Ministry of External Affairs had yesterday said that the 46 nurses been rescued from zone of conflict and would board the flight along with 70 others from Kirkuk.

Anxious family members of the nurses were eagerly awaiting their arrival. Sauma John, whose sister is among those who will return today, said, "My sister was working for seven months. We were facing a lot of problem ever since she was abducted in Iraq. We thank the CM and the central government for their support. The videos we have seen are very tragic. We are happy that she is coming back."

The CEO of the Non Resident Keralite Association, Sudip, assured that the nurses would be given help.

"46 nurses are coming from Iraq in Air India flight will be provided to all to reach to their respective homes. We will provide transportation to people who live at farther places. We will pay Rs 5,000 for their initial expenses. We have made all arrangements for medical emergencies.We have provided accommodation at the government guesthouse," he said.

The 46 nurses had been reportedly taken away by ISIS militants from Tikrit to an old building somewhere in Mosul late on Thursday night.

There were about 10,000 Indians in Iraq before the start of the strife between government troops and Sunni militants. The militants have captured two key cities and have their sights set on Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting that broke out on June 10.