Operation Kaveri: Indian Air Force Evacuates 1,400 Citizens from War-Hit Sudan

New Delhi (India), May 1, 2023: In a massive evacuation operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has brought back over 1,400 Indian citizens from the war-torn Sudan over the past few days. The operation, named ‘Kaveri,’ has seen two C-130 J aircraft carrying 260 personnel, including elders over 90 years old, safely return to India. One passenger was an incredible 102 years of age, according to IAF officials.

Earlier on Monday, 186 Indians who were stranded in Sudan arrived in Kochi as part of Operation Kaveri. This initiative is expected to evacuate around 3,000 Indian-origin citizens from Sudan, and so far, around 2,500 individuals have been successfully repatriated.

Amidst reports of intense fighting in Sudan between the army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, paramilitary Rapid Support Soldiers (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the situation on the ground remains grim. The ongoing violence has resulted in the death of at least 528 people and wounded over 4,599 individuals.

Apart from the IAF’s C-130 J aircraft, IndiGo has also deployed two flights from Jeddah to Delhi and Bengaluru respectively to support Operation Kaveri. With many Indians still stranded in the conflict-ridden region, the Indian government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure their safe return to their homeland.