New Delhi, Mar 25 (IANS): In a first, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday while hearing a matter through video conferencing directed the government to appoint a nodal officer from Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian students stranded at Almaty airport due to corona outbreak.

A division bench of the High Court presided over by Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh asked the government to communicate the details and other necessary particulars of the nodal officer so appointed, including his name and telephone number, to the students stranded there.

The bench asked the authorities to expeditiously provide students with basic amenities and humanitarian assistance in terms of food, medical care and lodging and transportation, as may be necessary.

The court also directed the Centre that the details can also be uploaded on the official website of the Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan as well as on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Sehla Saira through advocate Fouzia in which the bench was informed that several Indian students, who are enrolled for higher studies,including MBBS, at Semey Medical University in Kazakhstan are stranded without food, water, transportation and medical aid.

While the judges joined the video conferencing from their respective residences, the lawyers joined in from their offices.