Stranded Indians appeal to government for evacuation from Sudan

The third-largest country in Africa is home for about 4,000 Indians, including 1,200 who settled in decades ago.

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  Smoke billows above Khartoum's international airport amid fighting between the forces of two rival generals in Sudan. AFP

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  People carry Othman Mohamed, a senior military officer loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP

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  Residential buildings damaged in the fighting in Khartoum, Sudan. AP Photo

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  People cheer with Sudanese army soldiers manning a position in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP

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  People queue for water in Khartoum. The fighting has resulted in food and water shortages. Reuters

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  Black smoke covering the sky above the capital, Khartoum. AFP

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  Vehicles destroyed during fighting in southern Khartoum. AFP

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  People head for the station to flee Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters

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  Smoke and fire rise from an apartment building, after a shell hit the complex in Khartoum. Reuters

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  Heavy fighting has broken out across the country. AFP

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  A building damaged by the fighting. EPA

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  A destroyed vehicle of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in southern Khartoum. AFP

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  A building damaged by the fighting. EPA

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  People gather at a bus station to escape Khartoum. Reuters

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  People leave their homes amid the fighting. AFP

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  People look for drinking water in Khartoum, Sudan. Faiz Abubakr for The National

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  A building burns at Merowe Airport in Sudan. AFP

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  A man holds two bullets that hit his home. Faiz Abubakr for The National

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  People gather for a meal to break their fast during Ramadan in Port Sudan. AFP

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  Satellite image shows a close-up view of destroyed helicopters in South Khartoum. Reuters

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  The Port Sudan branch of the Central Bank of Sudan. AFP

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  A hole from an explosion on the side of a building in Khartoum, after fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces led by rival generals. AFP

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  People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis in Khartoum. AFP

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  Smoke rises above Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National

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  Fearful families try to shelter from the fighting in houses in Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National

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  A deserted avenue in Khartoum as residents fear to go out due to intense fighting. AP

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  A Sudanese army tank in a street in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP

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  Houses have been severely damanged during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters

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  Satellite images show a destroyed Ukrainian plane at Khartoum International Airport. Reuters

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  Market stalls abandoned in south Khartoum as fighting in the Sudanese capital rages for a third day. AFP

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  Smoke rises over buildings during clashes. Reuters

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  Damage at the Communications Authority Building. Reuters

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  People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis. AFP

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  Destroyed fuel trucks at a depot in Khartoum. Reuters

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  Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, at the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) base in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP

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  Smoke rises from a fire on the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport in Sudan as fighting between the government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. Reuters

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  Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan, addresses the current crisis and violence on the streets of his homeland at a news conference in Abu Dhabi. Reuters

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  Burning planes at Khartoum International Airport. EPA

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  Damage and a fire on the Kobar Bridge in Khartoum. AFP

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  Heavy smoke billows above Khartoum International Airport. AFP

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  Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum, as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day. AFP

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  A military vehicle patrols the streets as the fighting continues. AFP

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  Smoke rises over the city. Reuters

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  Thick smoke rises above buildings near the airport amid clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP

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  Explosions rock the Sudanese capital as paramilitary fighters and the regular army attack each other's bases. AFP

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  The fighting has raised fears of a wider conflict in the country. AP

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  Government soldiers stationed on a key road in Khartoum. AFP

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  The fighting comes days after the army warned the country was at a 'dangerous' turning point. AP

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  People walk past a military vehicle in Khartoum. AFP

Hundreds of terrified Indian citizens are making frantic appeals to New Delhi for their immediate evacuation from Sudan amid escalating violence in the African nation, where electricity and food supplies are becoming scarce.

Sudan is witnessing renewed conflict after two generals — army chief and military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Gen Mohamed Dagalo — started fighting over control of the country, which has left nearly 300 dead and more than 1,800 injured.

The armed conflict entered its fifth day on Wednesday amid efforts by global diplomats to bring it to an end.

The third-largest country in Africa is home for about 4,000 Indians, including 1,200 who settled in the country decades ago, according to official data.

One of them, Bhupendra, was at an iftar gathering last weekend when he first heard explosions.

“We are living in fear,” he told The National on the phone from Khartoum.

“It has not stopped since then … The bombings are happening now approximately 500 metres away from us. We couldn’t sleep last night due to the sounds.”

Bhupendra said that he could see fighter jets bombarding the area from his apartment.

Dozens of armoured vehicles were on the streets, leaving them stranded in their homes.

“Almost all Indians are facing the issues related to food, water, electricity, medicine. Some hotels are asking people to leave due to no resources or not being able to serve food,” he said.

People queue to get bread during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum. Reuters

Jayant Kewlani, 23, from central Madhya Pradesh state, arrived in Khartoum in March looking for work. He was meant to return home on April 20, but days before his flight the war broke out, leaving him stuck at a friend’s apartment.

“My home was at the centre of Khartoum and was close to the military base nearby. I had to leave and rush to my friend’s flat.

“From Sunday at 3am there has been no electricity. We are facing the problem of water and charging essential items like mobile phones. Groceries are almost over at stores. The situation is getting worse day by day,” he said.

The situation is better in some villages, but cases of looting and robbery have increased since the war, forcing shop owners to close their doors.

“I have lived here for over a year and it was always peaceful but since last week, the situation has changed … looting and robbery has started,” said Raj Sharma, a printing operator in the Omdurman area.

“There was no previous information on the war and the Indian embassy is asking us to wait but we want to go home as soon as possible,” he said.

Many have launched appeals to New Delhi to evacuate them or their relatives from the conflict zone, prompting the Indian embassy to set up a control room in Sudan.

“The situation is very, very scary there … I am appealing to the government to start the evacuation process and bring [my husband] home safely,” Ms Sheetal told The National.

Her husband works at a hotel in Khartoum and has been stranded with other guests since the violence broke out.

A satellite image shows a destroyed fighter aircraft and damaged hangar at Merowe airbase, approximately 330km north of Khartoum. AP

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held talks on Tuesday with his UAE and Saudi counterparts, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss steps to help stranded citizens.

Mr Jaishankar had earlier said that the evacuation process was being held back by the continuing fierce fighting.

“Plans regarding them have to take into account a very complicated security scenario,” he said, when responding to criticism from an opposition leader over the delay in evacuations.