The Madhya Pradesh government has issued a Chief Minister's helpline number for the SOS help and needs of its citizens stuck in the violence-hit Sudan.
"A statement from the Madhya Pradesh government has said a Chief Minster Helpline to help the citizens of Madhya Pradesh and India who are stuck in difficult circumstances in Sudan. Citizens of the state and outside the state, who are trapped in Sudan, can contact the helpline number ( 917552555582).
The statement further noted that family members or relatives of residents of Madhya Pradesh who are encountering trouble in Sudan can report their issues by calling the Chief Minster Helpline 181. “They can also log on to Chief Minster Helpline Portal (www.cmhelpline.mp.gov.in) for any kind of help related to Sudan Crisis", it added.
More than 400 people have reportedly died in clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in and around the capital city of Khartoum since last Saturday, as per the World Health Organisation.
Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military overthrew Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional administration and proclaimed a state of emergency in what political opponents referred to as a "coup."
As per statistics provided by the Sudanese government, 413 people have died and 3,551 have been injured in the war, said WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris, who was speaking at a UN press conference.
As part of the preparations to evacuate Indians from Sudan, the Ministry of External Affairs has announced that two Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft have been stationed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and INS Sumedha has landed in Port Sudan.
The Ministry of External Affairs added that while emergency procedures are in place, whether or not citizens would actually be evacuated will depend on the local security situation.
The statement said, "Contingency measures are in place, but any action on the ground would depend on the security environment, which is still tense amid reports of intense fighting at multiple Khartoum areas. All foreign aeroplanes are now prohibited from entering Sudanese airspace.
In order to protect the safety and security of Indians who are trapped in Sudan, the Ministry of External Affairs of India announced that they are continuously monitoring the security situation there and taking all required precautions. The Indian Embassy in Sudan keeps in touch with the affected nationals on a regular basis and gives them advice on safe travel and the value of avoiding needless risks.
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