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New Delhi: India has kept two C-130J military transport aircraft ready for flight in Jeddah as part of the government’s plan to evacuate Indian nationals trapped in violence-hit Sudan. A ship of the Indian Navy has reached an important port in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs, while giving details, said that contingency plans have been put in place to evacuate the Indians safely. But, any activity on the ground will depend on the security situation.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that India is making every effort to ensure the safety of Indians stranded in Sudan. “We are closely monitoring the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan,” the ministry said.
It said, ‘We are closely coordinating with various partners for the safe evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan.
The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are in regular contact with the Sudanese authorities, the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and the US, among others.
It said, “The Government of India is working on several options to fulfill this mission as part of our preparations and faster.”
“Two C-130J (aircraft) of the Indian Air Force have been kept ready for takeoff in Jeddah and INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan,” the ministry said.
“Contingency plans are in place, but any activity on the ground will depend on the security situation, which remains volatile due to heavy fighting at various locations in Khartoum,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said Sudanese airspace is closed to all foreign aircraft and ground traffic is also at risk.
