New Delhi: The two Indian Air Force C-17 aircrafts, brought back 154 Indians who were stranded in the war area of South Sudan’s capital Juba to national capital today morning. “I welcome our brothers and sisters on their safe return from strife torn South Sudan. Your country is always with you in hour of crisis./2” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
The First aircraft was reached at around 5 am and reach new Delhi. The passengers from Kerala and some from Tamil Nadu left for their native after the fight landed in Delhi. The evacuees also included two Nepali citizens, besides nine women and three children.
Minister of state for external affairs V K Singh, who is leading the government’s ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ to evacuate Indians from the African country, told reporters at the airport that 156 persons have been evacuated, of whom two are from Nepal.
“Over 550 Indians are still in 150 areas where the oil wells are located. When we landed 156 came to us, 300 people did not want to be evacuate duo to their business concerns and other activities. There are 9 women and three children among those evacuated,” Singh said.
Yesterday, two IAF C-17s departed for South Sudan with Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh leading the ‘Sankat Mochan’ operation. The developments were set in motion after Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar appealed to Mrs. Swaraj to help the Indian nationals stuck in the war-struck area. South Sudan is witnessing heavy fighting between former rebels and government soldiers in several parts of the city.
