Srinagar, March 17 (IANS): The Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil in a letter to Hamid Arabnejad, Managing Director of Iran's Mahan Air, requested to expedite the airlifting of pilgrims when the permission is received from the Central government.

"It is heartening to see your letter addressed to the Prime Minister of India dated 15-03-2020. The problem that affects the world certainly needs to be overcome by putting up a united front against it. The government of India has already outlined its readiness to combat this infection (coronavirus) that has now taken a pandemic form," the letter read.

"I would like to inform you that a delegation from Kargil, Ladakh, from where around 1,000 pilgrims are stranded in Iran, called on External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar on March 16," it said.

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to you and to your airline for the humanitarian gesture," the letter said.

"I would like to request you to kindly expedite the process of airlifting of the pilgrims as and when the necessary permissions/communications are received from the government of India," it said.