- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
India has begun rescuing its nationals from violence-hit Sudan via and air and sea routes and according to official data, 530 Indians were evacuated to safety till Wednesday (26) from the north African nation where the military and paramilitary forces have locked horns over a fierce power struggle since April 15.
Under its evacuation mission named ‘Operation Kaveri’, New Delhi has set up a transit facility at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where all Indians were taken following their evacuation from the African country.
Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft.
Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly. #OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/OHhC5G2Pg8
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023
Two military transport planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) rescued more than 250 Indians from Port Sudan after a naval ship evacuated another 278. While two IAF C-130J aircraft were deployed to evacuate the Indian nationals, the IAF also deployed its Garud Special Forces.
A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan.#OperationKaveri moving steadily forward. pic.twitter.com/JvwKgelnqN
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 25, 2023
On Tuesday (25), 278 Indians were evacuated by the Indian Navy with its frontline ship INS Sumedha.
India’s minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan reached Jeddah on Tuesday to oversee ‘Operation Kaveri’ at the control room in Jeddah. He received the Indians before their home-bound journey started.
#OperationKaveri in full swing.
Second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers.
This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri. pic.twitter.com/oQzsH4yBAr
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023
Earlier on Wednesday, India’s ministry of external affairs said in a tweet that 121 passengers left by IAF C-130J aircraft. The ministry later tweeted saying 148 Indians were evacuated in the second batch.
Happy to receive 278 Indians from Sudan onboard INS Sumedha at Jeddah Port. Glad Saudi Director General, MFA, Jeddah Branch H.E.Mazin Hamad Al Himly joined me
Thank Saudi authorities for excellent support in Jeddah.
#OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/r0RpWLTOmh— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 25, 2023
India stepped up its efforts to evacuate its nationals from Sudan as a 72-hour truce was agreed to between the fighting groups.
At least 450 people have been killed in the violence while more than 4,000 have been injured. One Indian national from the southern state of Kerala was killed by a stray bullet on the first day of the clash.
India has engaged with a number of nations, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, US and UK over safety of its nationals stranded in Sudan.
