Sudan Crisis: Third batch of Indians arrived Jeddah by aircraft

New Delhi: The third batch of another 135 stranded Indians, aboard the second IAF C-130J aircraft, left strife-torn Sudan on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, received the second batch of the 148 evacuated Indians as the first IAF C-130J reached Jeddah airport on Wednesday.

Earlier, the naval vessel INS Sumedha reached Jeddah port with 278 evacuated passengers.

“#OperationKaveri in full swing. The second IAF C-130J flight departs Port Sudan for Jeddah, carrying another 135 passengers. This is the third batch of evacuees under #OperationKaveri,” MEA tweeted.

Earlier on Wednesday, Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan also reached Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah to oversee the preparations and receive the first batch of Indian citizens, who, earlier in the day, left Sudan on board INS Sumedha.

“Upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to join Team #OperationKaveri, visited the control room set up to facilitate evacuation of Indians from Sudan. Necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. Team is in full readiness on the ground,” Muraleedharan tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping a close eye on the evacuations and has directed authorities to keep alternate plans ready.

Also Read: INS Teg Reaches Sudan With Relief Material For Stranded Indians

Around 3,000 Indians are among the stranded foreign nationals, and a 48-year-old from Kerala, Albert Augustine, has been killed by a stray bullet.

The number of people killed in the Sudan conflict has surpassed 400, including around 250 civilians. Air strikes and artillery barrages are reportedly responsible for the clashes, which have left more than 3,700 people wounded, according to reports from the country.

The evacuation process named Operation Kaveri, started on April 23, as apart from INS Sumedha, two Indian Air Force aircraft were sent to bring back Indian citizens stuck in the Sudanese capital, where civil war broke out on April 15 after its army and paramilitary forces clashed with each other, leading to large scale violence, which has led to the death of hundreds of people, including an Indian citizen.