The Union Government successfully evacuated 156 people from South Sudan and brought them back to India on Friday by a military plane. The C-17 aircraft flew from South Sudan’s capital city Juba with Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh escorting the evacuees, along with two Nepali citizens. The plane first stopped at Thiruvananthapuram where passengers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu disembarked before landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the efforts of the External Affairs Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Indian Air Force, Air India and the Railways for the success of Operation Sankat Mochan. Modi spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and VK Singh to congratulate them.
“The Prime Minister has welcomed all our Indian sisters & brothers who have returned from South Sudan,” the PMO said on Twitter. “PM spoke to EAM @SushmaSwaraj & MoS @Gen_VKSingh & congratulated them for their efforts in rescuing Indians..PM congratulated RM @manoharparrikar, IAF, the Railways, @airindiain for their role in Operation #SankatMochan,” the PMO said. “The flight from South Sudan has landed in Delhi. My colleague Vijay Goyal is at the airport to receive them,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted. “I welcome our brothers and sisters on their safe return from strife -torn South Sudan. Your country is always with you in hour of crisis,” Swaraj added while expressing her gratitude to the Indian Air Force and its officers for safe evacuation of Indian nationals from the strife-torn territory.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Air Force and their brave officers who carried out this mission. I appreciate my MEA officers, Indian Ambassador to South Sudan and his team for their meticulous work,” Swaraj said.
In Juba, Singh met Vice- President of South Sudan. 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.
Southern Railway and IRCTC provided free train tickets to the Indians who arrived here by the special IAF flight from South Sudan. Free train tickets with confirmed reservations and accommodation were provided to two of the evacuees from Kerala for their onward journey to their respective destinations and 15 others from neighbouring States.