New Delhi, July 20
India today evacuated 300 of its nationals from Lebanon even as the number of those of the 12,000 Indians in the war-torn country wishing to leave the country is on the increase.
The 300 evacuees were taken to Larnaca (Cyprus) by INS Mumbai today afternoon and they are expected to reach Cyprus by early tomorrow, Indian Navy spokesman Commander Vinay Garg told “The Tribune” this evening.
Two Air India aircraft are leaving Mumbai early tomorrow for Larnaca. The Boeings will bring back the evacuated Indians to Mumbai and would land at Mumbai airport at 4 pm and 4.45 pm, respectively.
The evacuation of Indian nationals from Beirut by INS Mumbai commenced earlier today. Approximately 700 Indian nationals, some Nepali nationals and a few other nationals were taken in buses arranged by the Indian Embassy to Beirut port. Approximately 1,000 Indian nationals had contacted the Indian Embassy for assistance to leave Lebanon. Most of them are leaving by INS Mumbai.
Today’s evacuation by INS Mumbai is one of the largest single evacuation operations from Lebanon carried out during the current crisis, The Ministry of External Affairs spokesman and Navy’s Rear Admiral Pradeep Chauhan said at a joint briefing. The Indian Embassy in Beirut continues to receive requests for evacuation from Indian nationals and is processing them in consultation with the local authorities. The evacuation operations will continue in the coming days.
The Indian embassy in Israel is in touch with nodal persons in the Indian community, and getting their feedback but there has not been any
request for assistance so far. Admiral Chauhan said about 700 persons were to be lifted today but this number would keep on changing. He said the Indian Navy will run a series of shuttle services so as to be able to disembark them and return. He said INS Shakti, a tanker, could also absorb a largish number, but it would have a harder time berthing alongside. That is why, INS Brahmaputra has been chosen to pick up evacuees tomorrow but it would all depend on when the Lebanese authorities give berthing permission to the ship.
It is a tactical decision by the Indian Navy not to put more than one ship alongside at any given time because the period of time the ships are alongside reflects their larger risk factors.
The Indian Navy could respond very quickly because the Indian warships were on overseas deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Indian vessels had already transited half way down the Suez Canal and were at Great Bitter Lakes when they were told to turn around and go back.
The Indian Navy perceives two kinds of risks to its fleet: a large number of warships and merchant vessels of various kinds milling around in a relatively close area; and navigations risks during nights, particularly when a large number of other movements are taking place. Admiral Chauhan said the Indian warships were well prepared.
Of the three Indians who were injured, one of them has been picked up by Indian embassy car in Damascus. Two others are currently hospitalised and are expected to be discharged in the next three or four days, and are expected to leave via Damascus. These people were injured in the Israeli bombings of the Maliban glass factory in the Bekaa valley.
The berthing of INS Mumbai was particularly a tough call because Beirut is a war-zone and there was a shortage of port staff and the assistance of the Indian Embassy was required. Admiral Chuhan explained the berthing of INS Mumbai was “not a traumatic experience” but it required all three steps to be taken — the port, the navy and the assistance by the Embassy.
Meanwhile, India today expressed its “deep concern” that Israeli armed forces continued to maintain their large-scale operation mounted in West Bank and Gaza in Palestine in disproportionate retaliation for the abduction of an Israeli soldier.
