The first IAF C-130J aircraft under Operation Kaveri from Port Sudan carrying 121 Indians landed in Jeddah via Indian naval ships and IAF aircraft.
India safely evacuated 534 Indian nationals from war-torn Sudan to Jeddah, via Indian naval ships and IAF aircraft, with more sorties to follow as part of Operation Kaveri. A number of Indians who were in Sudan have been evacuated and are being transported to India with a stopover at a transit facility in Jeddah.
The initial group of 278 individuals departed on INS Sumedha, followed by two other groups of 121 and 135 people who were airlifted to Jeddah on IAF C-130J aircraft later that evening. To ensure the safe evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan, a control center has been established in Jeddah, and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan is presently based there. It is not clear why these individuals required evacuation or what their circumstances were in Sudan; however, it appears that the Indian government is taking appropriate measures to ensure their secure return home.
India is conducting extensive evacuation operations for its citizens who were present in Sudan during the conflict between the army and the paramilitary. Over 3,000 individuals are expected to be evacuated in subsequent sorties following the three-day ceasefire announced by the warring factions in Sudan on Tuesday. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the rival Rapid Support Forces have agreed to pause the fighting from Tuesday to facilitate the establishment of humanitarian corridors, enabling citizens and residents to access essential resources, healthcare, and safe zones, while also evacuating diplomatic missions. In a series of tweets, EAM S Jaishankar confirmed the progress of the evacuation operation, with a second C-130 flight arriving in Jeddah with 135 passengers, and a first C-130 flight already landed in Jeddah with another 121 passengers, who will soon be returning home. The evacuation operation, called “Operation Kaveri,” is currently underway.