IAF aircrafts with Indians rescued from South Sudan to reach capital today

The two Indian Air Force C-17 aircrafts, bringing back hundreds of Indians stranded in war-torn South Sudan, will reach the national capital today.

"Both aircrafts are reaching Delhi via Thiruvananthapuram. First flight will land there around 5 am and reach New Delhi around 10 am tomorrow," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Thursday evening.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj further stated that Indian Air Force is carrying out the operation along with the Indian Railways and Air India, who will facilitate the onward journey.

"Indian Railways and Air India will facilitate their onward journey," she tweeted.

"Indian Air Force is carrying out OP," she tweeted.

Yesterday, two IAF C-17s departed for South Sudan with Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh leading the 'Sankat Mochan' operation.

VK Singh led team landed in Juba and started the evacuation process of the Indians.

The developments were set in motion after Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar appealed to Swaraj to help the Indian nationals stuck in the war-struck area.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has ordered a ceasefire after days of intense fighting in Juba which left more than 150 dead and many more injured since fighting broke out on Thursday.

The ceasefire announcement came as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on the Security Council to impose an "immediate arms embargo" and targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking implementation of the peace deal.

There was renewed fighting between the government and former rebel forces since Thursday in Juba.

The latest exchanges were apparently sparked by a shootout between President Kiir's and Vice President Riek Machar's bodyguards.