India on Thursday wrapped up its air evacuation operations from Yemen rescuing another 630 of its citizens from Sanaa, taking the total number of Indians brought home from the war-ravaged country to over 4,640 besides around 960 nationals from 41 countries.
Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, who was in Djibouti to oversee the massive evacuation operation, said the plane from Sanaa on Thursday carrying the evacuees had to alter route because of bombing.
"We were refused permission initially, then bombing necessitated plane to be on hold and we had to alter route," he tweeted.
The External Affairs Ministry said a total of over 5,600 people were evacuated under the rescue operation.
It said with the airlifting of over 630 persons from Sanaa by three special Air India flights, India has concluded its air evacuation operations that had started on April 3.
India on Wednesday had decided to extend air evacuation by a day following request by a group of 140 nurses.
Singh said all who wished to go to India were evacuated and no one was left at airport. "A satisfying day," he said.
The total number of Indians evacuated from largest Yemeni city of Sanaa by air has crossed 2,900. They were evacuated by 18 special flights.
In addition, Indian naval vessels have also evacuated over 1,670 Indians from Aden, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla ports in Yemen since 31 March, the MEA said.
Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra evacuated 349 persons, including 46 Indians and 303 foreign nationals from Al Hudaydah port on April 9.
"The entire evacuation effort has resulted in the evacuation of over 5,600 persons. These include over 4,640 Indian nationals and about 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries," the External Affairs Ministry said.
The evacuees were taken to Djibouti from where they were brought back to India in Indian Air Force aircraft.
Yemen has been witnessing fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels, who have battled their way into various cities including Yemen in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who has fled overseas.
The External Affairs Ministry also noted that the security situation in Yemen "deteriorated further" with a bomb blast at Aden port.
The ministry in its statement said that following the evacuation by India's naval ships from Al Hudaydah port for its remaining nationals over the next two days, the Indian Embassy in Sanaa will need to "shut" operations and relocate its personnel.
Later, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on twitter, "The evacuation operation from Yemen is over. General VK Singh is returning tonight. We are closing our embassy there."
Image: Indian nationals who were stranded in Yemen seeking information at the govenment help, upon arrival at the International Airport in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo
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