IAF pilot lands in Sudan using nightvision glasses to rescue Indians

In a daring operation, an Indian Air Force's C-130J heavy-lift aircraft rescued 121 people from a small strip at Wadi Sayyidna, about 40 kilometre north of the violence hit Sudan capital, Khartoum.

The airstrip had a degraded surface and no navigational aid or fuel. Most critically it had no landing lights, which is required to guinean aircraft landing at night. The pilot used night vision goggle to carry out the landing at night.

Approaching the airstrip, the aircrew used their Electro-Optical/Infra-Red sensors to ensure that the runway was free from any obstructions and no inimical forces were in the vicinity. Having made sure of the same, the aircrew carried out a tactical approach on Night Vision Goggles, on a practically dark night," the Indian Air Force said.

A pregnant woman and people who had no means to reach Port Sudan were among those rescued.

"Upon landing, the aircraft engines were kept running while eight IAF Garud Commandos secured the passengers and their luggage into the aircraft. As with the landing, the take-off from the unlit runway was also carried out using NVGs. This approximately two-and-a-half-hour operation between Wadi Sayyidna and Jeddah will go down in the annals of IAF history for its sheer audacity and flawless execution - akin to that carried out in Kabul," the Indian Air Force also added.

The IAF had notably carried out a similar operation to evacuate Indians from Kabul following the takeover by the Taliban.

Earlier this week, India launched 'Operation Kaveri' to bring back stranded Indians from Sudan. The country has been witnessing fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group, which has left around 400 people dead.

Another C-130J flight with 135 Indians took off from Sudan, which has plunged into a crisis.

External affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, " an IAF C-130J takes off from Port Sudan with 135 passengers for Jeddah. This marks the 12th batch of stranded Indians evacuated under #OperationKaveri."

The INS Sumedha which was stationed at Port Sudan has also left the country with 300 passengers. As many as 2,400 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan amid the bloodshed and intense fighting that is taking place.