Operation Kaveri: First batch of 278 stranded Indians reaches Jeddah, second leaves Port Sudan

As 'Operation Kaveri' unfolded, INS Sumedha reached Jeddah port with the first batch of 278 stranded passengers from strife-torn Sudan on Wednesday.

The second batch of 121 stranded Indians has also left Port Sudan for Jeddah.

"Operation Kaveri unfolds. INS Sumedha docks in Jeddah with 278 passengers. Thank HH @FaisalbinFarhan and Saudi Arabian authorities for their fullest cooperation," External Affairs Minister Jaishankar tweeted.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that another vessel with 121 Indian returnees left Port Sudan for Jeddah.

"The second batch of 121 stranded Indians leaves Port Sudan for Jeddah onboard IAF C-130J aircraft," the MEA tweeted on its official handle, informing further that another sortie would follow soon.

Indian Air Force's C-130J aircraft reached Sudan to evacuate stranded Indians as the process of evacuations continues in the violence-hit North African country.

"#OperationKaveri takes to the skies. IAF C-130J aircraft lands in Port Sudan to undertake evacuation operations," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Indians stranded in Sudan departed from the conflict-torn country in the first phase of 'Operation Kaveri'. The third Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, INS Sumedha with 278 people onboard, departed from Port Sudan and has now successfully reached Jeddah.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday inspected the transit facility at the International Indian School, Jeddah, where Indians evacuated from Sudan will be received & put up briefly before arriving in India.

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Meanwhile, Indian Navy's INS Teg on Tuesday joined 'Operation Kaveri' to further facilitate the ongoing evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan. The frigate on Tuesday arrived at Port Sudan with additional officials and essential relief supplies for stranded Indians, a senior MEA official said.