Ajit Karn
The Indian Air Force rescued another group of over 250 more Indians from conflict-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri on Tuesday, when a 72-hour ceasefire was agreed upon by the warring factions.
The central government launched Operation Kaveri in order to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan.
More than 250 indians were rescued by two IAF C-130 J aircraft from Port Sudan under operation kaveri.
Indian Air Force tweeted, “#OperationKaveri has taken to the skies! Two #IAF C-130 J aircraft evacuated over 250 individuals from Port Sudan. #HarKaamDeshKeNaam.”
The Indian Air Force has deployed its IAF Garud Special Forces to Port Sudan to ensure that no Indian national is left behind in Sudan.
A member of the IAF Garud Special Forces was spotted carrying an infant aboard a C-130J Special Ops aircraft while evacuating Indian nationals from Port Sudan to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
India has dispatched its military aircraft and warships to assist in the rescue of its citizens there as well.
Prior to this, on Wednesday, another 135 stranded Indians were rescued from Sudan.
V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, received the second group of 148 Indians evacuated as the first IAF C-130J arrived at Jeddah airport on Wednesday.
The naval vessel INS Sumedha with 278 evacuated passengers also arrived at Jeddah port.
“Operation Kaveri is in full effect. The second IAF C-130J flight from Port Sudan to Jeddah transports 135 additional passengers. This is the third group of evacuees under #OperationKaveri,” the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted that 121 passengers had departed aboard an IAF C-130J.
However, the MoS MEA tweeted later that 148 Indians were evacuated in a second group.
“First IAF C-130J aircraft under #OperationKaveri from Port Sudan carrying 148 Indians landed in Jeddah,” tweeted V Muraleedharan, minister of state for external affairs.
On Tuesday, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School in Jeddah, where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be greeted and housed for a short period of time prior to their arrival in India.
“Inspected transit facility @IndianPage, Jeddah, where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received and housed for a limited period prior to their departure for India. It includes mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, restrooms, medical facilities, and WiFi. Has a 24X7 control room. #OperationKaveri,” the Ministry of State tweeted.
As combat intensified between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups in the capital city of Khartoum on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that India’s “Operation Kaveri” to evacuate its citizens from war-torn Sudan is underway and that approximately 500 Indians have reached Port Sudan.
INS Teg joined ‘Operation Kaveri’ on Tuesday to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of displaced Indians in Sudan. According to a senior MEA official, the frigate arrived at Port Sudan on Tuesday with additional officials and essential relief provisions for stranded Indians.
“INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians,” tweeted the official spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday.
“Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by the Embassy Camp Office in Port Sudan,” Bagchi added. The INS Teg is the fourth frigate of the Talwar-class constructed for the Indian Navy.
Also read this:IAF takes charge; C-130J aircraft landed in Port Sudan for evacuation operations
In a recent development, warring factions in Sudan consented to a 72-hour ceasefire on Monday, mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia, while countries continue to evacuate their citizens.
