Over 300 Indians on way to Kochi after evacuation from Yemen

Over 300 more Indians evacuated from Yemen are expected to reach Kochi late on Saturday, taking the total number of those brought back from the strife-torn country in the last four days to about 1,300, the government said.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the Indians evacuated from Yemen's capital Sana'a and taken to the neighbouring country of Djibouti had left for India.

"All evacuated from Sana'a to Djibouti depart for home. AI 777 leaves Djibouti for Kochi with 322 pax. ETA Kochi 2230 hrs," Akbaruddin tweeted.

He said 978 Indians were evacuated in the last four days. The figure did not include the Indians who were expected to land in Kochi late on Saturday.

Two Indian Air Force flights carrying 334 Indian nationals evacuated from Yemen had landed in Mumbai on Friday night.

A total of 330 Indians had arrived on an Air India flight in Kochi early on Saturday.

Yemen has been engulfed in strife, as Shia Houthi rebels continued their advance against exiled president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's loyalists who are being supported by Saudi Arabia-led air strikes.

With the violence increasing, India on Friday stepped up its evacuation. India began evacuating its nationals by air from Sana'a as two Air India flights took off with 351 Indians to Djibouti.