Monday, 25 November 2024
Monday, 25 November 2024
Two military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuated over 250 Indians from Sudan after a naval ship rescued another 278 citizens from the strife-torn country. Under its evacuation mission 'Operation Kaveri ', India has set up a transit facility at Jeddah and all the Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city after their evacuation from Sudan.
Stranded Indians queue up to board INS Sumedha as they leave violence-hit Sudan for Jeddah under 'Operation Kaveri', in Port Sudan, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The first batch of 278 Indians were evacuated by Indian Navy's frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. "First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under #OperationKaveri. INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departs Port Sudan for Jeddah," Bagchi tweeted.
Hours later, the first C130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF landed at Port Sudan to bring back more Indians. It was followed by evacuation by another C130J. According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the first C-130J aircraft brought to Jeddah 121 passengers while the second plane evacuated 135.
India has set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate evacuation of Indians from Sudan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. From Jeddah, India is set to bring back the Indians home in military transport aircraft of the IAF.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. India stepped up its efforts to evacuate the Indians from Sudan as a 72-hour truce was agreed to between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following intense negotiations.
India on Sunday said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in Jeddah and naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the Indians. Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and US among others.
At a high-level meeting on Friday last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued directions for preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. After the meeting, the PMO said Modi instructed officials to prepare contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape in Sudan and the viability of various options.
Union MoS for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan receives Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri upon their arrival, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
