‘Prepare contingency evacuation plan’: PM Modi to officials during high-level meet on Sudan crisis

It added: “PM Modi expressed his condolences on the passing away of an Indian national who fell victim to a stray bullet last week.”

Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)

This comes a day after India described the situation in Sudan as “very tense”, and said that it is focusing on ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community. It added that the government is working on contingency plans, including those for potential evacuation.

The World Health Organization said on Friday that 413 people had been killed and 3,551 injured in Sudan since intense fighting broke out there six days ago.

The fight between the military and a powerful paramilitary force in Sudan has left around 30 people from Karnataka’s Hakki Pikki tribe stranded in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher. It had also triggered a heated exchange between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, with the Congress accusing ministers in the Modi-led government of being “eager to prove their loyalty to their master and be his voice”.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar said that he discussed the worsening situation in the African nation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The Foreign Minister underscored the need for “successful diplomacy” to aid an early ceasefire and create the ground situation for the safety and welfare of people.

Earlier, Jaishankar had also spoken to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to discuss the Sudan crisis.

The conflict in the country is a direct result of a vicious power struggle within Sudan’s military leadership. The clashes are between Sudan’s regular army and a paramilitary force called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

(With PTI inputs)