- Saturday, March 01, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
The Indian embassy in Sudan, where a fierce power struggle started last month between the military and paramilitary forces, worked round the clock with less manpower to help evacuate those Indians who were stranded in the African country, said passengers who reached Mumbai last week after being rescued.
Narrating the harrowing experiences they faced in the days ahead of their flight from Sudan, Abdul Kadir, a 39-year-old businessman, said as the situation in Sudanese capital Khartoum deteriorated, India’s ambassador to Sudan B S Mubarak and his team of eight officials worked tirelessly to ensure that the Indians were safe.
“With limited staff, they did unlimited work,” he said, adding that the Indian embassy was operating 24×7 during this period.
Mubarak himself was stuck in the worst-affected part of the city, but he was continuously in touch with the staff and volunteers, he said.
The ambassador created WhatsApp groups of Indians in each locality and ensured that every person got help, Kadir added.
Defense attache Gupreet Singh took risk and brought Mubarak to a safe area, he said.
Kadir, who was living in Sudan since 2017, said they were used to tense situations in the country, but this time things took a bad turn unexpectedly, though they were hoping that tensions would decrease in the holy month of Ramadan.
“Within one hour the situation went out of control,” he said, adding that they did not get a chance even to buy food and groceries.
“We got the benefit of being Indian. We were allowed to pass peacefully through numerous checkpoints,” Kadir said, adding that the Indian community at Port Sudan not only opened their homes but also their hearts for the rescued compatriots.
Another passenger said the situation was very bad, and the work done by the embassy staff could not be described in words.
“I only pray to Allah that all our stranded brothers and brothers in the embassy reach home safely,” he added. Many people were still waiting for their relatives to reach Mumbai from Sudan.
Anita Pandey, a resident of Kalyan, was one of them. Her husband had been working as a fitter in Khartoum for the last one year.
“My husband’s friend told me that he has been rescued and is safe. I don’t know where he is at present, but we are waiting for his arrival….I am hoping that he will reach tonight,” Pandey said.
(With PTI inputs)
