How India evacuated nearly 2,300 citizens during Israel-Lebanon war 2006!

India h carried out one of its best evacuation operations from a war-like zone in 2006, when it brought back home around 2,300 people, including some from Sri Lanka and Nepal, who were caught in Israel-Leban conflict, says a new book.

In Challenges of Governance: An Insider's View, former Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi recalls his experiences as a top bureaucrat on issues of governance, coalition politics and handling emergencies, like evacuation of Indian citizens from simmering war zone 13 years ago.

It was a rescue operation designed to provide support to those persons, mostly Indian citizens, who were caught in war-like zone of Leban-Israel, he says, ting that 12,000 Indians were living in Leban at time.

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Chaturvedi, who was overseeing developments from New Delhi, recalls that tension was escalating in region and travelling by ro was becoming increasingly dangerous so government opted for a sea route to bring m to a port in Cyprus from where Air India planes would fly m to Delhi.

Israelis started bombarding Lebanese positions, and re was a naval blocke of  Lebanese coast. With escalating tensions, Indian embassy in Leban evacuated families of its staffers, as it was becoming a dangerous conflict zone and lives were in danger.

This evacuation was done via neighbouring Syria.  families travelled by ro to Syria and n from its capital, Damascus, undertook an onward journey to India. But this was worrisome, for re were about 12,000 Indians living in Leban n, and many were scared for ir lives. re were also a large number of residents from or South Asian countries, US and Europe who wanted to be evacuated, he says.

On July 18, 2006, while discussing situation with  foreign secretary and chief of naval staff he said y were informed that several Indian ships were in  Mediterranean Sea region for naval exercises and that y were returning and could be used for Leban evacuation.

re were, however, several risks, for which we h to be equately prepared. decision h to be taken immediately, as our ships would be entering  Suez Canal any time, and once y did, ir return would be time-consuming. Traffic was only one-way and movement was strictly controlled by Egyptian port authorities. width of canal was small and did t permit any U-turns.

"Our ships were going to be involved in a humanitarian exercise and we were worried y might get caught in crossfire between Israel and Leban, Chaturvedi ds.

Indian ships heard a lot of messs and communication chatter which me it clear that Israel was going to put a blocke on Lebanese port, while several people who were to be evacuated lost ir papers in disturbed conditions and h to be given temporary documents, he recalls.

Coordination was required with Cyprus authorities. Our High Commissioner in Cyprus and ambassor for Leban needed to be in close touch with local authorities and government of Israel. We needed an understanding so that exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel could be temporarily stopped when evacuation process was going on, Chaturvedi says in book, brought out by Rupa Publications.

We worked out a plan so that those wishing to be evacuated could be helped by Indian embassy and moved to Beirut. Ships of  Indian Navy were n to be used to evacuate m to Larnaca, neighbouring port of Cyprus. Air India was n expected to bring m back to Delhi, he says, ding  prime minister was also briefed.

Furr Indian authorities needed to negotiate several issues despite previous formal communications to ensure transit was smooth and seamless.

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... This required constant liaison with local authorities. This was important, as many of people being evacuated from Leban did t have complete travel documents.

Immigration and security issues h to be sorted out. problem was compounded as coordination with Lebanese port authority was required and getting to m was a problem. Considering that more than 2,000 people were coming to board ships, extensive arrangements were required for journey, he says.

Chaturvedi recalls Air India did t operate from Cyprus n and special permission was sought for allotting parking bays to a number of flights of national career, while Indian Ambassor to Cyprus Neelam Sabharwal was in touch with local authorities to enable a quick issue of visas to Air India crew.

Also, since getting visas for so many people travelling via Cyprus was t acceptable to ir government under  European Union (EU) system, a vel system of transit slips was evolved. This would enable a transfer of passengers straight from naval ships to Air India aircraft.

Our preparations paid off and evacuation process went smoothly and was well appreciated by both NRIs and neighbouring Sri Lanka and Nepal, whose citizens were also brought home by Air India flights. Nearly 2,300 individuals were evacuated. It indicated effectiveness of our system in emergencies, he says.

Sabharwal, later recalled to me, India's evacuation operation via Cyprus was considered as best coordinated and most efficient by government of Cyprus, foreign correspondents, diplomats, and international organizations. In fact, it was described as a role model for EU and or nations to emulate', he writes.