Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : In response to a distress call received from the DG, Shipping, and the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, currently deployed for a mission based deployment in the Gulf of Aden, was directed to evacuate 38 Indian nationals stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra in the aftermath of cyclone Mekenu.
A very severe Cyclonic Strom Mekenu crossed the Yemeni Island of Socotra on May 24, 2018, leaving the 38 Indians stranded on the island with limited food and water. Also, three Indian dhows ( sailing vessels) at Socotra suffered damages/ sank alongside in the harbour while another Dhow, MSV Safina Al Khijar, with 12 Indians on board, is reported to be missing, according to a PIB release. Based on this information, the Indian Navy undertook two aerial sorties on May 27 and 28, 2018, to search for the missing Indians.
INS Sunayna, deployed on a mission based deployment in the Gulf of Aden, was pressed into action to evacuate the 38 Indian nationals from Socotra. The operation, code name ‘NISTAR’, was carried out on the morning of June 3, 2018, off the coast of Socotra.
The evacuated Indians were embarked on board and immediately provided with medical care, food, water and telephone facilities to call and reassure their families at home. All 38 have been reported to be safe. Post evacuation, the ship would be proceeding towards Porbandar to disembark the Indians ashore.