Despite limited staff, the Indian embassy in Sudan operated round-the-clock to evacuate those stranded in the war-torn country, said some of the people who arrived in Mumbai from the African nation under ‘Operation Kaveri’ mission.
These passengers, who landed in Mumbai on Thursday, narrated their harrowing experiences of the last seven days.
Abdul Kadir, a 39-year-old businessman, said after the situation in Khartoum worsened, India’s ambassador B S Mubarak and his team of eight officials worked tirelessly.
“With limited staff, they did unlimited work,” he said, adding that the Indian embassy was operating 24×7 during this period. Mubarak himself was stuck in the worst-affected part of the city, but he was continuously in touch with the staff and volunteers, he said.
The ambassador created WhatsApp groups of Indians in each locality and ensured that every person got help, Kadir added.
Defence attache Gurpreet Singh took risk and brought Mubarak to a safe area, he said.
Kadir, who was living in Sudan since 2017, said they were used to the tense situation in the country, but this time things took a bad turn unexpectedly, though they were hoping that tensions would decrease in the holy month of Ramadan. “Within one hour, the situation went out of control,” he said, adding that they did not get a chance even to buy food and groceries.
“We got the benefit of being Indians. We were allowed to pass peacefully through numerous checkpoints,” Kadir said, adding that the Indian community at Port Sudan not only opened their homes but also their hearts for the rescued compatriots
