India evacuates 664 more from Yemen; 334 land in Mumbai, 330 in Kochi

Three Indian Air Force planes brought back 664 Indians from strife-torn Yemen on Friday.

New Delhi/Mumbai: Three aircrafts brought back 664 Indians from strife-torn Yemen on Friday -- while two flights carried 334 in Mumbai, 330 landed in Kochi late on Friday night.

Kochi Arrival

The Air India flight carrying passengers from Yemen landed at around 12.30 AM on Saturday where Kerala minister KC Joseph alongwith several state government officials was at the airport to welcome the evacuees.

The Indian nationals, including nurses and workers, among others, reached home by the special AI flight, bringing an end to their more than a week-long ordeal.

They were part of over 650 Indian nationals who were brought to Djibouti from Sanaa early on Friday.

Kerala Government's Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) cell is giving Rs 2,000 each to the those who returned from Yemen at the airport besides providing them free transportation facilities to reach home.

Mumbai Arrival

Two C 17 Globemaster transport planes, one carrying 179 Indians and the other carrying 155 people, landed in Mumbai past 11 p.m.

Defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted that both IAF flights have landed in Mumbai.

"They include persons evacuated by INS Sumitra," he posted.

The passengers were flown home from Djibouti, where the Indians were brought from Yemen.

Yemen has been engulfed by strife, as Shia Houthi rebels continue their advance against loyalists of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's loyalists who are supported by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes.

According to the UN, the two weeks of chaos in Yemen has killed at least 519 people, many civilians and children among them.A Another 1,700 people have been wounded over, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, said in a statement Thursday.

With the violence increasing, India on Friday stepped up its evacuation. It began evacuating its nationals by air from the Yemeni capital of Sana'a Aas two Air India flights took off with 351 Indians to Djibouti. The air flights got clearance on Friday.

Indian naval ship INS Sumitra reached neighbouring Djibouti with 306 Indians who boarded the waiting C 17 Globemasters to be flown back to India.

(With Agency Inputs)