Families of youths stranded in Yemen seek their evacuation

Families of about 12 youths, stranded at Aden in Yemen, have been requesting the authorities for their immediate evacuation. District officials have assured them of all help. Rafiqul Islam, father of Saifur Rahman who is stranded in strife-torn Yemen, said he had last heard from his son through mobile yesterday.

"Today I could not contact him. We urge the government to take up the matter seriously," he said after meeting several officials here. Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Chowdhury said he was taking proper channel to convey the agony of the people concerned.

Parliamentary Secretary (Labour) Tapan Dasgupta also assured that he would do his best to help the sufferers. People of Pandua and Balagarh areas of Hooghly district have gone to Yemen as diamond cutters. Meanwhile, 349 Indians on Wednesday reached Djibouti after being evacuated on a Navy vessel from strife-torn Yemen's Aden city late Tuesday night and will fly to Mumbai soon.

Evacuation took place after India got permission to dock its offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra at the Aden harbour as the government launched a massive air and sea operation, christened "Operation Raahat', to bring back its over 4,000 nationals in Yemen.

Saudi-led coalition warplanes pounded Yemen's Shiite rebels for a sixth day on Tuesday, destroying missiles and weapons depots and for the first time using warships to bomb the rebel-held airport and eastern outskirts of the port city of Aden. 

Also Read: Pakistan denies sending fighter jets, naval ships to Yemen to take part in military action against Houthi rebels