PM Modi reviews Sudan situation, asks for preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indian nationals.

Reviewing the situation in Sudan, where several thousand Indians are stuck amid the ongoing conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday directed the preparation of contingency evacuation plans.

The meeting, chaired by PM Modi and conducted via video conferencing, was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in addition to India's Ambassador to Sudan and other senior officials.

The north African country is going through a serious crisis with deadly clashes between the army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since last week. The airport is not operational and venturing out on the roads has become a risky proposition in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other parts of the country.

During the review meeting, Prime Minister Modi assessed the most recent developments in Sudan and received a first-hand report of the conditions on the ground, with specific focus on the safety of over 3,000 Indian citizens presently located throughout the country, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

"The Prime Minister further directed the preparation of contingency evacuation plans, accounting for the rapidly shifting security landscape and the viability of various options," the PMO added.

According to the PMO, Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences on the passing away of an Indian national who tragically fell victim to a stray bullet last week.

Prime Minister Modi also emphasized the importance of maintaining close communication with neighboring countries in the region, as well as those with significant numbers of citizens in Sudan. Instructing all relevant officials to remain vigilant, he asked them to closely monitor developments and continuously evaluate the safety of Indian nationals in Sudan and extend all possible assistance to them.

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had described the situation on the ground in Sudan as very "tense". The Indian authorities were focusing on ensuring the safety of Indians wherever they were located in the country, MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said at the weekly media briefing.

India is in touch with countries in the region and other countries that have a key role to play, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. EAM Jaishankar has already spoken to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in addition to Egypt. The Indian High Commissioner in Washington DC and the High Commissioner in London are in touch with the respective host governments.