Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 25: As part of the evacuation mission known as “Operation Kaveri,” the first group of Indians stuck in the violently unstable Sudan was transported out of the nation by the Indian naval ship INS Sumedha.
Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that 278 persons were aboard the ship when it sailed from Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
“First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under #OperationKaveri. INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departs Port Sudan for Jeddah,” Bagchi tweeted.
First batch of stranded Indians leave Sudan under #OperationKaveri.
INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departs Port Sudan for Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/4hPrPPsi1I
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 25, 2023
India began “Operation Kaveri” on Monday to evacuate its citizens from Sudan, where there has been intense violence as a result of a power struggle between the regular army and a paramilitary force.
India announced on Sunday that as part of its backup plans to rescue the stranded Indians, it has stationed two IAF transport planes in Jeddah and the naval ship INS Sumedha in Port Sudan.
The government had previously stated that it was concentrating on the protection of the more than 3,000 Indian nationals who are now residing in Sudan.
There have apparently been 400 casualties during the 12-day war between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group.