DARING: IAF C-130 lands on dangerous airstrip at night to rescue stranded Indians in Sudan

In a daring operation on intervening night of April 27 and April 28, Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J aircraft performed a night landing at a degred airstrip near Khartoum to evacuate stranded Indians from strife-torn Sudan. runway h no lights or navigational aids.  passengers included medical cases, including a pregnant ly, besides those who h no means to reach Port Sudan.

This landing happened at Wi Sayyidna air base, which is around 40 kilometres from capital Khartoum. mission was part of Operation Kaveri to rescue Indians from Sudan.

This convoy was led by Indian Defence Attaché, who was in continuous touch with IAF authorities all along, till y reached airstrip at Wi Sayyidna. airstrip in question h a degred surface, with no navigational approach aids or fuel, and most critically or landing lights (that are required to guide an aircraft landing at night). 

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

Upon landing, aircraft engines were kept running while eight IAF Garud Commandos secured passengers and ir luggage into aircraft. As with landing, take-off from unlit runway was also carried out using NVGs.

"This approximately two and a half hour operation between Wi Sayyidna and Jeddah will go down in annals of IAF history for its sheer audacity and flawless execution - akin to that carried out in Kabul," an IAF spokesperson said.

Under Operation Kaveri, India has been rescuing its citizens in buses from conflict zones in Khartoum and or troubled areas to Port Sudan from where y are being taken to Jeddah in Indian Air Force's transport aircraft and Indian Navy's ships.

From Jeddah, Indians are being brought home in eir commercial flights or IAF's aircraft. India has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan and India embassy in Khartoum has been coordinating with m and MEA's hequarters in Delhi.

Sudan has been witnessing dely fighting between country's army and a paramilitary group that has reportedly left around 400 people de.