New Delhi, March 10
As the “Operation Safe Homecoming” draws towards a close tonight, around 15,400 of the 18,000 Indian nationals are already home from Libya. The figure includes 2,400 Indians who returned home during the past 24 hours.

They came back on nine special flights from Libya (Tripoli and Sebha), Egypt (Alexandria) and Malta. According to the MEA, 47 charter sorties have been undertaken since the commencement of the evacuation exercise on February 26.

The ministry said the Egyptian authorities had been the most supportive. They allowed Indians to enter the country even without visas. Egypt Air charter flights joined in the evacuation exercise.

In the last leg of the operation, special Air India flights are heading for Tripoli (one) and Sebha (two) to fly back the remaining Indian professionals and workers desirous of leaving Libya. These flights are expected back late tonight and in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, INS Jalashwa docked at Tripoli harbour in the forenoon today and is helping in the evacuation of remaining Indian nationals seeking to return home from Tripoli.