THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first batch of Malayalis stranded in war-torn Sudan landed in New Delhi on Wednesday. A total of 19 Malayalis were brought to Delhi from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a flight on Wednesday night. The first trip of evacuation of Indians from the African nation started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan to coordinate rescue efforts.
The returnees include five members of a family from Kakkanad, Ernakulam. They are Biji Alappat, Sheron Alappat, Michelle Alappat, Rochal Alappat, Daniel Alappat, Kottarakkara natives Thomas Varghese, Sheelamma Thomas, their daughter Sherin Thomas and Idukki Kallar native Jayesh Venugopal.
The state government has declared that the returnees would be brought home at the state’s expense.
The plane landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at night. A control room has been started at Kerala House: 011 23747079