With more than 660 people evacuated Friday night, the total number of Indian Nationals evacuated from the strife torn Yemen has reached to one thousand . They were brought home by two IAF planes and a special Air India planes from Djibouti after moved out from Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The two Indian Air Force planes carrying 334 people landed in Mumbai past 11 PM and the special Air India flight with 330 Indians reached Kochi airport past midnight taking the total number people evacuated to 1022. The two Air Force C-17 Globemasters carried among others, 306 evacuees — 251 men, 38 women, 17 children — rescued by Navy vessel INS Sumitra.
In Kochi, the evacuees, including nurses and workers, were welcomed at the airport by Kerala Minister for Diaspora KC Joseph along with state government officials.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has expressed satisfaction over the renewed efforts by central agencies to rescue Indian nationals stranded in Yemen. Chandy lauded the manner in which Friday’s evacuation was carried out by various Indian agencies including foreign office, Navy and Airforce. He said, the evacuation mission named Operation Rahat launched in Yemen could be completed in two days.
A group of 46 persons, including seven women and two children belonging to Tamil Nadu, reached Chennai today after they were brought to Mumbai by Indian Air Force flights.
They mostly belong to Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts.Tamil Nadu Government officials were at the airport to welcome them.
The state government had arranged for their travel to their respective destinations.