Operation Kaveri: First batch of stranded Indians leaves Sudan

The first group of Indians stranded in Sudan left the conflict-hit nation on an Indian Navy warship for Saudi Arabia's Jeddah as part of Operation Kaveri, a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a tweet on Tuesday.

"The first batch of stranded Indians left Sudan under Operation Kaveri. INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard departed Port Sudan for Jeddah," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

INS Teg, meanwhile, joined Operation Kaveri, and arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan is expected to be in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation process.


India sent two heavy-lift aircraft to Saudi Arabia and a ship to the coast of Sudan to begin the evacuation of Indian citizens who were caught in the conflict.

On Monday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said 500 Indian citizens reached the Port of Sudan and were awaiting evacuation.