http://www.indianexpress.com/story/9148.html
Evacuation of Indians becoming tough: Govt
Jayanth Jacob

Posted online: Monday, July 24, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print  Email
 
NEW DELHI, JULY 23:In the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in that country, is proving to be a tough task with the communication infrastructure in Lebanon being adversely hit.

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Meanwhile, officials in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said the body of Devesh Kumar Swain, the first Indian casualty of the West Asia crisis, is expected to arrive in New Delhi at 7 am tomorrow by Syrian Airways flight RB 501. The body will then be flown to Bhuwaneswar. Swain, a native of Orissa, was a glass factory employee.

Though the Indian embassy in Beirut is stepping up its efforts to evacuate more people, the collapse of communication infrastructure is affecting the process.

‘‘Many people have lined up to get evacuated. But we are crippled and can’t get in touch with them. The Indians are also finding it difficult to get in touch with us with the collapse of communication infrastructure,’’ a senior government official said.

However, about 700 people have left for Larnaca and are expected to reach the Cyprus city by evening. They are expected to be flown down to Chennai and Mumbai in two Air India flights by Monday evening.

Air India will be flying two aircraft every alternate day. At the same time, the Indian embassy in Beirut has been getting more requests for evacuation from its nationals. Many Indians are stranded in the worst-hit part of South Lebanon.

Since many countries are evacuating citizens, berthing of ships too have become an issue. The Beirut airport is badly hit and there are not many roads that can be accessed. That leaves the port the best possible and safe way to move out the citizens.

‘‘It’s a war-zone, and we need coordination with the port staff at Beirut and other such agencies. With too many ships milling around and other communication problems, we find it a tough task, though we have been successful in evacuating our nationals,” the officials said.

jayanth.jacob@expressindia.com

tayara mechanici wrote:

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Whom do you pay to, Indian embassy, AI capt,AI aunty,  AI office in Larnaca ( they don't fly there ), or you know of people who are ready to con helpless refugees in a evacuation ? Go on share the secret. Clever Boy !

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A amusing incident...

A relative of mine came from SIN in an SQ flight few days when AIs evcuation flight landed at BOM...and the media people with their cameras showed all over the airport as if he was also an evacuee!!!

Next hour telephone calls all over "why did you go to lebanon"

He said a good thing to me that if someone would have asked him by mistake taking him to be an evacuee about lebanon he said i would reply "Lebanon was like Singapore"