New Delhi: The second batch of 664 Indians evacuated from strife-torn Yemen is back home safely.
While 334 rescued Indians landed in Mumbai, a batch of 330 landed in Kochi. However, over 3,000 are still trapped in the strife-torn country and are hoping to return safely as soon as possible.
The three aircarfts brought these people from Djibouti after being evacuated by Indian Naval ship Sumitra from Aden, the port city of Yemen.
The Air India flight carrying passengers from Yemen landed at Kochi airport at around 12.30 AM on Saturday where Kerala minister KC Joseph alongwith several state government officials welcomed the evacuees.
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Kerala Government's Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) cell is giving Rs 2,000 each to those who returned from Yemen at the airport besides providing them free transportation facilities to reach home.
Two C17 Globemaster transport planes carrying 334 landed in Mumbai around 11 pm on Friday.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted that both IAF flights have landed in Mumbai."They include persons evacuated by INS Sumitra," it reads.
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Saudi Arabia has been conducting air strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels. Over 3000 Indians still believed to be stranded on Yemen.
As per the UN reports, the two weeks of chaos in Yemen has killed at least 519 people, many civilians and children among them. 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.
