In a further boost to the ongoing repatriation efforts under Centre’s `Operation Kaveri`, Indian carrier Indigo joined the mission and took off from Jeddah with 231 stranded Indians.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan tweeted, “IndiGo joins #OperationKaveri. 231 Indians on board flight from Jeddah to New Delhi. With this 5th outbound flight, nearly 1600 arrive or fly to India. Have a nice journey.” Our mission continues.”
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Indigo said, “We have offered our services for charter flights to Jeddah under the Government of India’s Operation Cauvery rescue mission for our citizens from Sudan. We are still awaiting details from the ministry to start these flights.” are doing, nothing has been confirmed yet.” the airlines said in a statement.
The airlines had earlier expressed willingness to participate in the ongoing evacuation to evacuate Indians stranded in the crisis-hit African country under ‘Operation Kaveri’.
Indigo said it is committed to support the central government’s mission to evacuate Indian nationals from Sudan. The airline’s crew stepped forward to respond to the critical humanitarian need of the hour, enabling the safe return of stranded citizens to their families and homes.
Earlier on Friday, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that 2,100 Indians have reached Jeddah so far under ‘Operation Kaveri’. Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that INS Sumedha, which is stationed at Port Sudan, left the crisis-hit country for Jeddah with 300 passengers on board. This is the 13th batch of INS Sumedha, which is taking Indians to Jeddah.
Earlier, on Friday, an Indian Air Force C-130J evacuated the 10th and 11th batch of 135 passengers from Port Sudan to Jeddah after the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) agreed to extend a ceasefire amid ongoing violence in the capital. Had agreed. Khartoum and West Darfur region.
Earlier, the Sudanese army said it would extend the ceasefire “for an additional 72 hours” following mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United States, in the final hours of a three-day ceasefire that repeatedly broke down, ending at midnight. Due to take place (22:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The RSF also said it approved the extended truce, adding that the proposal came from two diplomatic groups comprising the US, Saudi Arabia, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
Sudan is on the boil as a result of ongoing conflicts between the army and paramilitary forces. There have been reports of violence and clashes even during the 72-hour ceasefire.
Clashes broke out between troops loyal to Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, paramilitary Rapid Support Soldiers (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Committed to ensuring that no Indian citizen is left behind in Sudan, India has deployed its military aircraft and warships in the war-torn country.