The Ministry of External Affairs in India voiced a note of caution to its citizens in Sudan, advising them to not take cover inside the embassy as it is in the middle of a fighting zone.
"We are in readiness. We are in close touch with our teams on the ground but it all depends on long there is a ceasefire in fighting and safe locations available for evacuation," the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson said. The External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to meet UN Secretary General in New York on the Sudan situation, the MEA further said.
Sudan is in the midst of a crisis as fighting has raged between Sudanese army and rival paramilitary force RSF with Indian Embassy asking Indians to stay indoors. At least 185 people have been killed and over 1,800 wounded since the fighting between Sudan's two top generals erupted. Reports of Indian citizens stranded in the war-torn region without adequate supply of food or water have also come to the fore.
Earlier, an Indian national was killed in the deadly clash between the army and rival paramilitary force RSF, officials said on Sunday. The slain has been identified as Albert Augestine.
Augestine, the officials said was injured by a stray bullet following the clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF.
Meanwhile, war of words erupted between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Siddaramaiah after the latter commented over tribals from Karnataka -- the Hakki Pikki tribe -- stuck in crisis-hit Sudan. Former Karnataka CM Siddaramiah, in a series of tweets, had alleged government inaction in bringing back the stranded people belonging to a tribal community in the southern state.
Jaishnkar in response, accused Siddaramaiah of politicising the issue. "Simply appalled at your tweet! There are lives at stake; don't do politics," he wrote in a tweet denouncing Siddaramaiah's remarks.
(With inputs from PTI)
