Amid the tense situation in Sudan, a C-130J heavy-lift aircraft of the Indian Air Force rescued 121 people from a small airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna – about 40 km north of Sudan’s capital Khartoum.
The rescue operation was carried out on the intervening night of 27 and 28 April.
Indian Air Force officials said that among those rescued in the operation was a pregnant woman and one with no means of reaching Port Sudan, from where India is rescuing its citizens using military aircraft and naval ships.
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One of the officials said that the airstrip in question had a low surface with no navigational aids or fuel, and most critically had no landing lights, which are essential for landing an aircraft at night.
Officials said the aircrew used its electro-optical and infrared sensors to ensure that the runway was clear of any obstruction and that there were no hostile forces in the vicinity.
“After ensuring this, the crew adopted a tactical approach using night vision goggles in practically dark night,” the official said.
He said, “After landing, the engines of the aircraft continued to run while eight IAF Garuda commandos secured the passengers and their luggage on board. Along with the landing, the take off from the unlit runway was also done using night vision goggles.” “
‘Operation Kaveri’
The IAF officer said, “This operation of about two-and-a-half hours between Wadi Sayyedna and Jeddah will go down in the annals of IAF history for its audacity and flawless execution – just as it did in Kabul.”
The Indian Air Force had carried out similar operations to evacuate Indians from Kabul after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. India launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ earlier this week to bring back Indians stranded in Sudan.
Sudan is witnessing fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group that has reportedly left nearly 400 dead.
(With inputs from PTI)
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