156 Indians return from South Sudan, 71 land in Delhi

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) At least 156 Indians were evacuated from violence-hit South Sudan, with 71 arriving by a special Indian Air Force flight at Palam airport of the national capitall on Friday morning.

Earlier, 85 Indians landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport.

The C 17 Globemaster flight of the Indian Air Force touched down at Palam airport around 10.45 a.m.

The evacuation was part of 'Operation Sankat Mochan' launched by the Indian government and is being led by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh.

"We've brought back 156 Indian nationals, of whom 85 deplaned at Thiruvananthapuram airport. I met Foreign Minister (Barnaba Marial Benjamin) and Vice President (Riek Machar) of South Sudan and they assured me of all possible help," Singh told reporters after landing in the capital.