NEW DELHI: As fighting intensifies in Sudan, India has announced the launch of “Operation Kaveri” — a mega mission to rescue thousands of citizens stranded in the violence-hit country.
The first batch of 278 Indian nations has already left Sudan aboard INS Sumedha and will return home shortly.
Sudan has been witnessing fierce fighting following a power struggle between the regular army and a paramilitary force.
Here’s all you need to know about the mission …
What is the operation about?
Operation Kaveri is a rescue operation launched by the central government to evacuate Indian citizens who are stranded in Sudan.
It was launched on April 24, 2023 in response to the crisis in Sudan. The operation aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in the war-torn country.
India said it has positioned two transport aircraft of the IAF in Jeddah and naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate the stranded nations.
Apart from the Sudanese authorities, the ministry of external affairs and the Indian embassy in Sudan have been in regular touch with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and US among others for the evacuation efforts.
How many Indians are stuck in Sudan?
According to reports, there are around 2,800 to 3,000 Indian citizens stranded in Sudan.
Who is overseeing the operation?
Union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan is supervising the operation. The minister is currently in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation efforts.
Why is the rescue mission named “Operation Kaveri”?
The choice of naming the mission “Operation Kaveri” bears a lot of significance.
Kaveri is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The river is sacred to the people of the region and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma (mother Kaveri).
“Rivers reach their destination irrespective of barriers. It’s like a mother who will ensure she will bring her children back to safety,” a top government source told ANI.
Has India launched similar missions before?
Yes. India has launched several such rescue missions to bring home stranded citizens from different countries.
Last year, the Modi government launched “Operation Ganga” to evacuate thousands of Indian students from Ukraine after the Russian invasion.
The rescue operation undertaken by India when Afghanistan was under attack from the Taliban was called “Operation Devi Shakti”.
Similarly, under “Operation Vande Bharat”, India brought back millions of citizens from various countries in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic when shutdowns were being announced across the globe.

What is the reason behind the current crisis in Sudan?
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the last 12 days that has reportedly left around 400 people dead.
Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the armed forces, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces that grew out of Darfur’s notorious Janjaweed militias, are each seeking to seize control of Sudan.
The fighting comes two years after they jointly carried out a military coup and derailed a transition to democracy that had begun after protesters in 2019 helped force the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. In recent months, negotiations were underway for a return to the democratic transition.