250 Indians evacuated from Sudan

NEW DELHI: Over 250 Indians were evacuated from Sudan on Wednesday onboard two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from Port Sudan to the Saudi city of Jeddah, from where they will be brought back home.

"The first C-130 lands in Jeddah with another 121 passengers. They will be reaching home soon... A second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri," the MEA tweeted.

The first batch of 278 Indians was evacuated by the Indian Navy's frontline ship INS Sumedha on Tuesday. According to official data, the total number of Indians evacuated so far from Sudan stands at around 530.

Under its evacuation mission, Operation Kaveri, India has set up a transit facility in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. After their extraction from Sudan all evacuated Indians have been taken to the Saudi Arabian city. From Jeddah, India is set to bring back its ctizizens home in the IAF military transport aircraft.

Minister of state for external affairs V. Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission.

India had on Sunday said it has put "contingency plans in place" that include evacuation operations by air and sea for over 3,000 stranded Indian nationals in Sudan.

New Delhi had on Sunday said, "It is in regular touch with the stranded Indians in Sudan and is advising them on the viability of safe movement and the need to avoid unnecessary risk."