The first batch of Indians stranded in conflict-torn Sudan were evacuated as part of ‘Operation Kaveri’ on board INS Sumedha from Port Sudan on Tuesday. The group of 278 people were among the first to reach Port Sudan during the 72-hour ceasefire that took effect from Monday midnight. They are expected to reach the Saudi port of Jeddah within a day. The Ministry of External Affairs informed on Tuesday that additional measures are being taken to broaden the operation as spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced, “ INS Teg joins Operation Kaveri. 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.”
Indian citizens in the Sudanese port told The Hindu that the Indian embassy had begun coordinating over the past four days for possible evacuation from Khartoum, Omdurman and other crisis-hit areas. However, the actual operation took time to begin because it took time for the ceasefire to come into effect and also because the civilian infrastructure on the ground had come to a halt. The worst affected is Sudan’s banking sector as banks have stopped working, adding to peoples’ misery.
