New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh truly played the role of a 'Sankat Mochak' for hundreds of Indians stranded in war-torn South Sudan.


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Singh led from the front to execute the Indian government's initiative, named 'Operation Sankat Mochan`, and airlifted 156 persons from the African country this morning.


Eighty-five Indians landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport, while 71 arrived in Delhi by a special Indian Air Force flight.


Among those rescued included 46 Keralites, two Nepalese nationals, seven women and three children. The remaining passengers hailed from other South Indian states.


 


Those evacuated arrived on a special Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram at around 5 am. The other C 17 Globemaster flight of the Indian Air Force touched down at Palam airport in Delhi at around 10.45 am.




"We`ve brought back 156 Indian nationals, of whom 85 deplaned at Thiruvananthapuram airport. I met Foreign Minister (Barnaba Marial Benjamin) and Vice President (Riek Machar) of South Sudan and they assured me of all possible help," Singh told reporters after landing in the capital. 


Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed her gratitude to the Indian Air Force. Here are her tweets:







The Indian Air Force carried out the operation along with the Indian Railways and Air India, who facilitated the onward journey of evacuees.


The C-17 aircraft was brought via Uganda and the minister also met Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda who on his part assured India of all help.


South Sudan is witnessing heavy fighting between former rebels and government soldiers in several parts of the city.