Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal/Kasargod
With Additional Pics by Mubasshir Hallare
Bhatkal/Kasargod, Apr 3: Six persons, including five of a family from Bhatkal and three others from Kasargod who were stranded in war-torn Yemen reunited with their families on Thursday April 3.
They were among the 350 Indians rescued from Yemen who landed in Mumbai and Kochi from Djibouti on Thursday by IAF planes.
Yunus Shabandri and family
Jinto Joseph reunites with family
Gen V K Singh interacting during the flight
Mohammed Yunus Shabandri, who along with his wife and three children landed at Mumbai, said that he arrived in Bhatkal by train after landing in Mumbai airport.
"We spent the last one week in anxiety, uncertain if we would ever see our families back home again. Every Indian in Yemen was looking towards India and praying to be rescued, and finally it has happened. We thank the Indian government wholeheartedly for taking security measures and rescuing us on time," Shabandri said.
"When we landed at Mumbai airport by IAF planes, the Maharashtra government took good care of us and made all necessary arrangements for our comfort. It even booked AC train tickets to take us to our respective hometowns," he added.
"Minister of state for external affairs General V K Singh who came to Djibouti to oversee the evacuation operation enquired about our condition and helped us. I am indebted to him," Shabandri said.
Also, two from Kannur district and three from Kasargod also reunited with their families. They were Odayanchal resident Jinto Joseph, Lateef Mustafa of Periyagudde, Shashidhar of Neeleshwar, Anish of Payannur and Manu of Taliparamba.
After reaching Mumbai, they proceeded to Mangaluru by flight and then to their respective hometowns by road.
Among them, Jinto was employed with a hotel in Aden, Yemen, for the last five years. He had visited his hometown two years ago. He had a happy reunion with his wife and one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
Over 350 Indians were safely airlifted from strife-torn Yemen. India sent its biggest plane, the C-17 (Globemaster), to evacuate its nationals, 190 of whom landed in Mumbai on Thursday while another 168 went to Kochi in Kerala.