AMN
Two Indian Air Force planes brought home 358 Indians evacuated from strife-torn Yemen today . While the first plane carrying 168 people, mostly nurses from Kerala, landed at Kochi airport at 2 AM, the second plane carrying 190 Indian nationals landed in Mumbai at 3.30 AM. The two planes, C-17 Globemasters, brought them from Djibouti after being evacuated by Indian Naval ship Sumitra from Aden, the port city of Yemen.
At Kochi airport, they were welcomed by Kerala Diaspora Minister KC Joseph, PWD Minister Ibrahim Kunjuand and their family members.
They boarded the Indian Air Force flight from Djibouti last night. 17 people from Tamil Nadu were also there in the team. Facilities were arranged for the speedy emigration clearance and other formalities at the airport. NORKA, the organization of the Kerala Government for Non Resident Keralaites Affairs has arranged a help desk inside the airport. Special buses were arranged to drop the evacuated people at their home towns.
A majority of the evacuees who landed in Mumbai are from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, while 12 are from Maharashtra. A report from our Mumbai correspondent.
An Indian Air Force plane carrying 190 Indian nationals from Yemen landed in Mumbai at 3.30 a.m at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Maharashtra housing minister Prakash Mehta was present at the Airport on behalf of the state government. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya who was also at the airport, welcomed the passengers. Maharashtra government had made arrangements for their accommodation free of cost. The government would also make further arrangements for their travel along with a travel allowance.