Minister’s arrival from Delhi gave us hope, say Indians headed home after Sudan war trauma

Jeddah: “We were not certain about reaching our destination Port Sudan 800 km away from capital Khartoum. It was a 27-hour nightmare with every passing minute being extremely tense,” says Sairam Adluri of Andhra Pradesh, who was rescued from war-ravaged Sudan and brought to Jeddah before being repatriated to India.

Adluri told IndiaNarrative.com on Wednesday that the journey to Port Sudan from Khartoum by road is not more than 14 hours but it took them 27 hours to reach amidst of checking across the way by personnel of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “Whenever they noticed that we are Indians, they cleared our way immediately”, he said.

Like dozens of other Indians working in Khartoum, Adluri reached Port Sudan from where he was evacuated by Indian Air Force special flight and brought to Jeddah and is now expected to leave for Mumbai shortly.

“I can’t describe the trauma that I faced until leaving Sudan and also I am short of words to express my gratitude to the Indian Government for safely bringing me to Jeddah,” said another Indian citizen named Sairam.

“We were touched by the gesture of the Government of India that minister V Muraleedharan came to welcome us and that instilled confidence,” he added.

Hailing ‘Operation Kaveri’, Sairam said that some Indians were brought by sea and others by air by Indian Navy and Air Force and all are being provided good facilities, including food as well as internet connectivity at their accommodation.

The Ministry of External Affairs officials in New Delhi are in constant touch with respective state governments from where Indians hail during the process of repatriation.

The clashes erupted after tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule. Sudan’s regular army and a paramilitary unit called the Rapid Support Forces (RAF) have been locked in a violent conflict since April 15. More than 400 people have been killed in the fighting while thousands have been injured.

India has been closely coordinating with Saudi Arabia and various other partners for the safe movement of Indians stranded in Sudan and has established control room in Jeddah where Indian Air Force planes are currently positioned.

Also Read: Operation Kaveri in full swing as MoS Muraleedharan reaches Jeddah to oversee rescue