Indian Navy evacuates 348 Indians from Yemen in night-long operation
Xinhua, April 1, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Indian Navy evacuated 348 Indian nationals by searoute from war-torn Yemen throughout Tuesday night, the External Affairs Ministry said Wednesday.
A naval warship, INS Sumitra, rescued 348 Indian nationals, including 101 women and 28 children, after it docked at Aden harbor in Yemen, according to the ministry.
The warship has set sail for the east African country of Djibouti, where the Indian Air Force's C-17 transporter planes are waiting to fly them home, it said.
"Sailing away from troubles. INS Sumitra set sail for Djibouti late last night from Aden with 348 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen," Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
The Indian Navy has also released photos of the rescue, code- named "Operation Rahat (relief)," being carried out in a dramatic way amid bombing and fighting all around the port city of Aden.
Out of 4,000 Indians stranded in Yemen, where a Saudi Arabia- led coalition has been carrying out air strikes against Iranian- backed Houthi rebels, 750 Indians have been rescued so far.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had Monday spoke over the telephone to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who assured him of full assistance in the safe evacuation of the stranded Indians. Endi