Steps taken to evacuate Indians stranded in Yemen, says Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral P Murugesan, who took over today as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, has stated that steps would be taken to evacuate Indian nationals, who are stranded in Yemen through sea and air route.

"Evacuation is going to be through sea and air route, several agencies like Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Air India are going to participate," said P Murugesan.

The evacuation plan was worked out at a meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

Earlier in the day, Vice Admiral P Murugesan was accorded with the Guard of Honor as he took charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday asserted that New Delhi has launched a national endeavour to ensure the safe return of those stranded in Yemen and said 400 Indian nationals are being evacuated from Aden by the sea route.

"We have previously made three announcements requesting Indian nationals to leave Yemen as soon as possible. Yet approximately 4000 Indian nationals remain in the conflict zone in Yemen. We have launched a national endeavour to ensure their safe return back to India. As a first step today, 400 Indian nationals are being evacuated from Aden by the sea route," said Syed Akbaruddin MEA official spokesperson.

Saudi-led coalition war planes have struck pro-Iranian rebels in Yemen with the Islamic kingdom threatening to send ground troops which could potentially initiate a broader sectarian conflict in the Middle East.

Earlier, Houthi rebels backed by allied army units seized Yemen's largest al-Anad air base on Wednesday from forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

The Security Council had also released a statement expressing unanimous support to President Hadi, who has sought refuge in the southern port city of Aden after fleeing the capital Sanaa in February.

Instability has steadily been rising in the nation, where al-Qaeda and Islamic State sympathisers pose a threat.