Operation Kaveri In Full Swing: Close To 2,000 Indians Safely Moved Out Of Sudan Conflict Zone This Week

Around 1,700 to 2,000 Indians have been successfully evacuated from the Sudan conflict zone this week.

This includes those who have arrived in India, those waiting in Jeddah and Port Sudan, and those on their way from Khartoum and nearby areas to Port Sudan.

These details were shared by foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday (27 April).

Operation Kaveri aims to get every stranded Indian in Sudan to an area of relative safety, followed by a journey to Port Sudan and back to India, according to Kwatra.

The Indian Navy's INS Sumedha and two sorties of the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s C130 J evacuated 278, 121, and 135 Indians respectively from Port Sudan earlier this week.

The INS Teg sailed out on Wednesday (26 April) carrying 297 Indians, while two C130 J aircraft are set to evacuate 264 Indians soon.

INS Sumedha returned to Port Sudan, while INS Tarkash has been dispatched for the mission, said Kwatra, indicating the deployment of a third naval vessel.

Kwatra reported that approximately 600 Indians have already arrived in India or are currently en route.

He mentioned how 360 Indians had arrived via a chartered flight from Saudi Arabia, while the remaining 246 were being transported to Maharashtra through an IAF C17 aircraft. (In the latest update, the 246 Indians reached Mumbai.)

Around 3,500 Indian citizens and 1,000 people of Indian origin were located in Sudan, mostly in groups in Khartoum, with some presence in other cities like Omdurman, Al Fashir, Kassala, and Port Sudan, according to Kwatra.

The foreign secretary said they have been monitoring the conflict in Sudan between their armed forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces ever since it began.

Ceasefires were declared, but not all were respected, with sporadic firing and fighting reported in some parts of Khartoum.

He stated that the situation in Khartoum is "highly volatile," with conflicting claims from both sides.

India had been communicating with both parties to ensure the safe evacuation of people.

India lost a citizen in Sudan after a stray bullet hit him. His family has returned to India.