Libya: efforts underway to bring back Indians

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New Delhi: As the unrest in Libya intensifies, New Delhi's evacuation efforts are gathering momentum to rescue 18 thousand Indians trapped there. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that the evacuation process to bring back Indians stuck in Libya has begun.

The first civil ship is expected to sail from Alexandria to Benghazi where it will pick up the first batch of a thousand labourers. Air India flights are still waiting for clearance to land in Tripoli, Benghazi, Sabah and Kufra - where more Indians are waiting. Back home, their families are praying for a safe return.

Two special Air India flights are expected to reach Tripoli any time now to bring home the first batch of 700 stranded immigrants.

New Delhi: As the unrest in Libya intensifies, New Delhi's evacuation efforts are gathering momentum to rescue 18 thousand Indians trapped there. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that the evacuation process to bring back Indians stuck in Libya has begun.The first civil ship is expected to sail from Alexandria to Benghazi where it will pick up the first batch of a thousand labourers. Air India flights are still waiting for clearance to land in Tripoli, Benghazi, Sabah and Kufra - where more Indians are waiting. Back home, their families are praying for a safe return.Two special Air India flights are expected to reach Tripoli any time now to bring home the first batch of 700 stranded immigrants.

Three naval warships will also set sail for Malta on Saturday. The island across the Mediterranean has become an evacuation hub for several countries.

Additionally, a passenger ship will set sail for Benghazi on Sunday; it is expected to return with Indian evacuees to Alexandria the same day.

Two more ships are also being pressed into service and a military aircraft is also headed to Egypt for bringing back a group of 90 Indians who crossed over by road from Libya.

“Two aircraft will be reaching Tripoli and we are hoping that the evacuation from Tripoli to Alexandria can take place and from there other arrangements can be made. We are thinking in terms of evacuating around 18,000 people,” Foreign Affairs Miniater SM Krishna told the newsmen.

Meanwhile, another Indian casualty has been reported in the country. Ashok Kumar passed away in Tobruk city. he was among the 5 Indians hurt in a road accident while fleeing the country.

Worried families are now regretting the departure of their relatives to work in the violence-stricken and politically volatile region. They have been constantly appealing to the GOI for their immediate release.