Three batches of Indians were evacuated from the strife-torn Sudan on Tuesday and early hours of Wednesday as the 72-hour ceasefire between the warring factions of armed forces in Sudan appeared to be holding.
While the first batch of 278 Indians arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on board the naval ship INS Sumedha, the second and third batch of 121 and 135 people, respectively, were evacuated onboard IAF C-130J heavy-lift transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Separately, the Indian Navy's second ship, INS Teg, arrived in Port Sudan to bring back more Indians under 'Operation Kaveri'.
"INS Teg joins #OperationKaveri. Arrives at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians. Will boost ongoing evacuation efforts by Embassy Camp Office at Port Sudan," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
There are reportedly over 3,000 Indians in Sudan.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has reached Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission. The Minister tweeted: "Third batch comprising 135 Indians from Port Sudan arrived in Jeddah by IAF C-130J aircraft. Onward journey to India for all who arrived in Jeddah will commence shortly."
Muraleedharan added that the necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. "Necessary infrastructure is in place in both Port Sudan and Jeddah. Team is in full readiness on the ground," he added.
He also inspected the transit facility for the Indians in Jeddah, sharing pictures of rooms with mattresses, provisions, fresh meals, toilets and medical facilities.
India has also set up a control room in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah to facilitate the evacuation of Indians from Sudan. It is not clear when the evacuated people will be brought to India.
Meanwhile, India also rushed in essential relief supplies for its remaining stranded citizens on board the naval ship INS Sumedha. There is an acute shortage of food and water in the country as the fighting continues.
The launch of Operation Kaveri comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a high-level meeting last week wherein he issued directions for the preparation of contingency plans to evacuate Indians from Sudan. MEA S Jaishankar too arranged for the rescue after speaking to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.