There are around 600 Indians in South Sudan.
AB Wire
India on Thursday sent two C-17 Globemaster aircraft to war-torn South Sudan’s capital Juba to evacuate over 300 Indians stranded there.
Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is leading the operation and he is accompanied by Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, joint secretary Satbir Singh and director Anjani Kumar.
The mission, name ‘Sankat Mochan’ aims to evacuate Indians from South Sudan, which has been rocked by violence that has claimed hundreds of lives.
According to the ministry, there are around 600 Indians in South Sudan and so far nearly 300 Indians have registered with the Indian embassy for evacuation.
“We are launching OP #SankatMochan to evacuate Indian nationals from South Sudan. My collegue @Gen_VKSingh is leading this operation,†External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
“Our Ambassador in South Sudan Srikumar Menon and his team is organizing this operation on the ground,†Sushma Swaraj added.
“We will make all possible efforts to bring back safely all Indian nationals who are stranded in Sudan,†Gen VK Singh told to media before his departure.
The evacuation flight route will be Juba-Kampala-Trivandrum-Delhi and only Indian nationals with valid Indian travel document will be allowed boarding with maximum five kg cabin baggage. Women and children will be accommodated on priority and those who wish to de-board at Trivandrum will be allowed to do so.
Those who wish to travel elsewhere from the two stops in India will have to make their own arrangements.
Social Media Updates:
We are launching OP #SankatMochan to evacuate Indian nationals from South Sudan. My colleague @Gen_VKSingh is leading this operation./1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 13, 2016
He will be accompanied by Secretary Amar Sinha, JS Satbir Singh and Director Anjani Kumar. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 13, 2016
Thanks to my colleague @manoharparrikar and my best wishes to the brave Indian Airforce who are carrying out OP #SankatMochan./4
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 13, 2016
Our Ambassador in South Sudan Srikumar Menon and his team is organising this operation on the ground./3
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 13, 2016
MoS for External Affairs Gen VK Singh leading opration 'Sankat Mochan' to evacuate Indians stranded in South Sudan pic.twitter.com/RVM2HU4P3R
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2016