The Indian Navy is readying its largest landing platform dock, INS Jalashwa, and a couple of destroyers to evacuate Indians from crisis-hit Libya. As many as 18,000 Indians are believed to be trapped in the escalating conflict between the supporters and opponents of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Sources in the Indian Navy said the ministry of external affairs (MEA) is in talks with the ministry of defence over the operation. A passenger ferry — Scotia Prince — is already in Egypt and readying to sail to Benghazi in Libya. It is expected to reach Benghazi on February 27 and bring back at least 1,200 Indians to Alexandria in Egypt by March 1, 2011. They would be flown to India from there.
In Tripoli, the focus will be on air evacuation. Aircraft are on stand-by for this purpose. Libyan landing clearance is awaited and should be received soon, the ministry of external affairs said. Preparations are also on to evacuate Indian nationals from cities in the interior areas.
The Indian population in Libya includes nearly 4,000 staff of some major construction companies, including DS Construction, Simlex, Unitech and Punj Lloyd.
