Beirut/New Delhi, July 19
Three Indian nationals were wounded in an air strike on a glass
factory in the eastern Bekaa Valley in Lebanon even as the Indian
Government prepared to evacuate another 1000 people from the war zone
and deployed four ships to bring them back home.
Earlier, Reuters said three Indian workers were among those killed
in fresh casualties in the battle-scarred nation.
Already 49 persons were evacuated on July 17.
A Sri Lankan national and a Sudanese were also among the 55
civilians killed in Israeli air raids today, the ‘Daily Star’
newspaper of Lebanon said.
Streams of Lebanese were fleeing their homes to find safe havens
and thousands of foreigners, mainly Westerners, were being evacuated
by sea to the neighbouring Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said that
the government was trying to confirm the reports that three Indians
had gone missing and one was wounded in an Israeli air strike on a
glass factory at Satura in Eastern Bekaa valley.
“We have information that a glass factory was hit after which
three Indians went missing and one was wounded,” the Minister said.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman, Navtej Sarna also said there
were reports of three Indians having gone missing. However, the
reports could not be confirmed, he said.
‘The Daily Star’ newspaper of Lebanon said at least 55
civilians were killed and scores wounded in Israeli raids across
Lebanon today. These included a Sri Lankan and a Sudanese national who
were killed at Nabatiyeh in Southern Lebanon.
More than 300 persons, mostly civilians, have been killed and
hundreds wounded during the past eight days of Israeli military
action.
Mr Ahamed said earlier that the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv was
making arrangements to evacuate between 1000 and 2000 Indians, half of
them students, from the Northern part of Israel and bring them to
safer areas of the South.
The External Affairs Ministry spokesman said if the number of the
people wanting to be evacuated from Lebanon was more than 1000, they
would be taken to Larnaca in Cyprus from where they would be airlifted
to India.
He said India had also received requests from Nepal and Sri Lanka
to evacuate their nationals. If the ships have any space left, they
too would be accommodated, he said in reply to a question.
Mr Sarna said the situation was evolving very fast in the region
and there was considerable congestion as a result of the build-up in
the seas.
Meanwhile, four Indian warships today reached outskirts of Beirut
to evacuate about one thousand Indians trapped in the war zone of
Lebanon. However it would not be until tomorrow morning when the ships
would be given berthing facilities in Beirut harbour.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the ships were yet to be
given berthing facilities because of the fluid situation in the
region.
There are 12,000 Indians in Lebanon and to evacuate them all, if
all were interested to be evacuated, the “Operation Sukoon” would
take more than a week to complete the evacuation, Indian Navy’s
spokesman Vinay Garg said. He said the first batch of 1000 Indians was
ready and waiting to board the ships and would be taken to Larcana in
Cyprus, where they would be given protection. Larcana is at a distance
of 120 nautical miles from Lebanon, which is covered in six to eight
hours.
All four vessels are warships in full combat gear. These comprise a
missile destroyer, two guided missile frigates and a fleet tanker. The
last one is an auxiliary ship, which carries oil for mid-sea
refueling.
The Indian Navy normally does not take passengers aboard its
warships in such large numbers, but since it is a war-like situation
in Lebanon, the Indian Navy has agreed to the gesture.
India is also in touch with Israel to see what assistance they can
provide.
