Over 500 return from Libya with horror tales

Agencies/New Delhi

Indian evacuees from Libya arrive at the New Delhi airport in New Delhi yesterday

Two state-run Air India flights carrying a total of 530 evacuees arrived at the airport in the Indian capital late Saturday.

Many passengers had worried relatives waiting for them outside Terminal 2 of the airport.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and A Didar Singh, secretary in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, were among those present at the airport to receive the evacuated Indians.

“They are all in good health and cheer. The passengers included a large number of women and children,” the external affairs ministry said.

As the evacuees poured into the airport from the planes, they were greeted by help desks set up by ten state governments at Terminal 2 to assist with food, accommodation, medical check up, transport and further travel arrangements to their final destinations. All the facilities are being made available free of charge.

Terminal 2 was reactivated in just 24 hours by the Delhi International Airport Limited for the returnees from Libya and will be operational exclusively for handling all future dedicated flights, the ministry said.

Almost all those who escaped from the turmoil in Libya left behind all their assets and jobs.

“We left everything there and came back … have no plans to go back even if the situation gets normal,” said a woman.

 “This escape of mine makes me feel I am in heaven,” said Mohammed Sali, 63, an engineer. “One man came and put the knife on my neck. He took all my belongings - laptop, chain, even my car.

“We heard gunshots every day. I went under a container and stayed there. Somehow we managed to escape.

“People have to go without food and water for three or four days as the situation there is bad. People are on the streets... police stations have been burnt down. There is no safety, no police.”

There are some 18,000 Indians in Libya, of whom 3,000 are believed to be in the eastern port city of Benghazi working for car companies, construction firms and hospitals, while others are scattered across the oil-rich country.

Fears of a full-scale civil war as Muammar Gaddafi loses his grip on power have prompted many countries to rush to get their citizens out.

“The need of the hour is for India to send as many planes to get all the Indians out,” said Moben Kureshi, 27, a factory worker who was on the first plane to land in New Delhi.

“Those people who are far from Tripoli are in massive trouble as foreigners are under serious threat. We were looted at the airport itself. At least three groups, including mine, had their mobiles taken away at the check-in.

“The situation of Indians, especially who are residing in workers camps, is very bad as the camps have been burnt down and there is no shelter, food and water.”

On Saturday evening, 88 people had crossed over by road from Libya to Ras Jedir in the neighbouring Tunisia. They were received by officials of the Indian embassy in Tunis, who have set up a camp there.

The 88, who work for Punj Lloyd, have since been housed in a hotel in Djerba in Tunisia, from where they are likely to be flown back to India soon.

Another 170 Indians are likely to reach Ras Jedir today, the ministry said.

Indian officials said the air rescue effort would go on for at least two weeks, while a passenger ship was also due to arrive in Libya to take Indian evacuees to Alexandria in Egypt, from where they will be flown home.

Navy ships with full medical facilities on board, including operation theatres, doctors and paramedic staff, are also being sent from Mumbai and are expected to reach Libya in 10 days.

“The priority in getting people out has been given to women, children and the elderly and anybody who needs medical assistance,” foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash told reporters.

“If we can help any of the neighbouring countries to evacuate their citizens we will to do so.”