16 Indians rescued from Libya return home

Kochi, May 12: It was an emotional homecoming for 16 Indians rescued from strife-torn Libya as they reached on Thursday.

All of them are from Kerala and are among 29 Indians evacuated after they were stranded in Libya. They left by flight from the Libyan city of Tripoli to Istanbul, from where they came to Dubai and then to Kochi, Non-Resident Keralite Affairs CEO R S Kannan said.

Anxious relatives hugged their loved ones and many were in tears after the rescued nationals arrived at Nedumbassery airport here. Three Tamil Nadu residents, who were among the 29 persons rescued, would go directly to that state from Dubai, he told PTI.

The news that they had been rescued and would return home had been broken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday at an election rally in nearby Tripunithara.

"I have some good news for you. Six families from Kerala and three Tamil Nadu residents, who were stranded in Libya, will return home safely tomorrow or day after. In total 29 persons have been rescued," he had told a BJP election meeting.

PTI