The Indian government has launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate stranded Indians from Sudan. This massive rescue Operation led by INS Sumedha is underway from Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. India’s indigenous-built navy ship INS Sumedha is evacuating Indian citizens from crisis-hit Sudan. India has also deployed its second navy ship, INS Teg to evacuate its nationals. Of the 500 Indians who had reached Port Sudan on Monday, the first batch of 278 people departed for Jeddah on INS Sumedha.
“INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Tuesday.
“Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan,” Bagchi further tweeted.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India’s ships and aircraft are set to bring the Indians back home. “Operation Kaveri gets underway to bring back our citizens stranded in Sudan,” Jaishankar tweeted.
“We are committed to assisting all of our brothers and sisters in Sudan,” Jaishankar said during a press briefing on Monday. Indian officials are concentrating on the safety of more than 3,000 Indian citizens who are currently residing in Sudan.
The MEA said in a statement, “The government is closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan and is coordinating with various partners for the safe movement of Indians who wish to be evacuated.”
The two Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft are currently positioned on standby in Jeddah airport. However, any movement on the ground would depend on the security situation, which continues to be volatile, with reports of fierce fighting at various locations in Khartoum.
The Indian Embassy in Sudan said they are not only in touch with the Sudanese authorities but also with the UN, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the US, among others. “The Indian officials in Sudan are in regular touch with the stranded Indians and advise them on the viability of safe movement and the need to avoid unnecessary risks.”
