New Delhi: In a daring operation carried out by the Indian Air Force on the night of 27/28 April in war-torn Sudan, 121 people were rescued with the help of a C-130J aircraft. A pregnant woman is also included in these. These people were rescued from Wadi Sayyidna which is about 40 km north of Khartoum. The Indian Air Force gave this information on Friday.
According to the Indian Air Force, in a daring operation carried out on the night of 27/28 April, a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force rescued 121 personnel from a small airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna, which is about 40 km north of Khartoum. The passengers included medical cases including a pregnant woman. These people had no means of reaching Port Sudan.
The convoy was led by the Indian Defense Attache, who was in constant touch with the IAF officials till it reached the airstrip at Wadi Sayyedna. The airstrip in question had a low surface, no navigational approach aids or fuel, and most likely no landing lights (which are needed to guide an aircraft landing at night).
Proceeding towards the airstrip, the aircrew used their electro-optical/infrared sensors to ensure that the runway was clear of any obstruction and that there were no hostile forces in the vicinity. After being sure of the same, the aircrew took a tactical approach putting on Night Vision Goggles in the practically dark night.
After landing, the aircraft’s engines continued to run while eight Indian Air Force Garud commandos secured the passengers and their luggage on board. Along with the landing, the take-off was also done from the unlined runway using NVG. This operation of about two and a half hours between Wadi Sayyedna and Jeddah will go down in the history of the Indian Air Force for its audacity and impeccable execution as it was carried out in Kabul.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, “An IAF C-130J took off from Port Sudan for Jeddah with 135 passengers on board.” This is the 12th batch of Indians stranded under Operation Cauvery.
