Operation Kaveri: Another batch of 360 Indian nationals evacuated from war-torn Sudan to reach Delhi via Jeddah

Firmly showing that safety and security of Indians living abroad are priority of the government, another batch of 360 Indian nationals, evacuated from war-ravaged Sudan under ‘Operation Kaveri,’ reached Jeddah where at the airport they were seen off by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday as they were on board a flight to New Delhi.

Tweeting about it, MoS Muraleedharan said, “Happy to see 360 Indians at Jeddah Airport in a flight bound for New Delhi. They will be reaching the motherland soon, reuniting with their families. Under #Operation Kaveri the Government is working relentlessly to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan & bring them home safely.”

Under “Operation Kaveri,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy have so far evacuated more than 530 Indians from Sudan.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar tweeted that the two C-130 flights brought back 121 and 135 passengers, respectively.

“#OperationKaveri - the next step. The first C-130 flight lands in Jeddah with another 121 passengers. They will be reaching home soon,” he tweeted.

“A second C-130 flight reaches Jeddah bringing 135 passengers from Sudan. #OperationKaveri moving steadily forward,” he said in another tweet.

India has set up a control room in Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation mission, which is being overseen by MoS Muraleedharan.

The action has been taken in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to make emergency evacuation preparations for Indians living in Sudan in the wake of a fatal conflict between the nation's army and paramilitary force.

To make sure that Indian nationals return home safely, the MEA and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in constant touch with a number of nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the US.

EAM Jaishankar also spoke with numerous foreign leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, about the situation in Sudan. The evacuation effort came after a 72-hour truce was agreed between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group that had reportedly caused around 400 deaths.