Indian Navy evacuates 349 Nationals from troubled Yemen

Media Release

Aden, 02 Apr 2015: Consequent upon the Government of India issuing an advisory for Indian nationals to leave Yemen, the Indian Navy has deployed 3 ships in support of the evacuation operation. In a well co-ordinated operation involving multiple agencies, INS Sumitra, an offshore patrol vessel, which has been deployed for anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since March 11 2015, was the first to undertake evacuation from Yemen. The ship was re-deployed off the Port of Aden on March 30 2015 and, thereafter, entered Aden Harbour in the evening of 31 Mar 15. The ship evacuated 349 Indians from Aden and is currently on passage to Djibouti. On disembarkation of these personnel at Djibouti, the ship is scheduled to return to Aden to undertake further evacuation, if required.

 

 

IN Ships Mumbai and Tarkash also sailed from Mumbai on March 30 2015. The ships will escort 2 passenger vessels, Kavaratti and Corals, through the piracy risk area off the coast of Somalia. These passenger vessels had sailed from Kochi on March 30 2015, to Djibouti. The two warships will, thereafter, be available for evacuation of Indian nationals from Yemeni ports, as required. 

 

Coincidentally, the Indian Navy had undertaken a large scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise in Feb 2015. The alacrity and flexibility of the current operation once again underscores the Navy’s capability in terms of HADR.