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Operation Rahat: Naval personnel say lack of ID proof was taxing

In such an eventuality, alternative documents would be asked for. If an individual did not have ID proof (in the form of a passport or driver's licence), then one of the other evacuees already on-board would be asked to vouch for them, and thus take guarantee of the unidentified person.

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Navy chief RK Dhowan congratulates the crew of INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash for successfully undertaking Operation Rahat in war-torn Yemen, on Monday
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There are still around 500 Indians in Yemen who have chosen to stay back, instead of returning to India by becoming evacuees under Operation Rahat. Many of them are possibly living in Yemen without legal documents.

"During the evacuation process, we were checking passports. There were multiple cases wherein people did not have a passport because their employer kept it with them, or even lost them," said Captain Rajesh Dhankar, who led Indian Naval Ship Mumbai to Aden.

In such an eventuality, alternative documents would be asked for. If an individual did not have ID proof (in the form of a passport or driver's licence), then one of the other evacuees already on-board would be asked to vouch for them, and thus take guarantee of the unidentified person.

"Just before the evacuees boarded the Indian warships, we used to check if they are carrying arms and ammunition or drugs," shared Captain Pradeep Singh of INS Tarkash.

INS Mumbai and Tarkash conducted two sorties each, on different ports of Yemen. INS Tarkash ferried 96 Indians and 442 foreign nationals, whereas INS Mumbai transferred 728 Indians and 187 foreign nationals to Djibouti.

For the Indian personnel, each day brought more challenges as the situation kept worsening. "The ship was operating a non-combat role in a combat situation," said Captain Singh.

The sailors were prepared for 'any eventuality', as a foreign vessel had come under fire a few hours before the Indian ships went in for evacuation operation.

Daily, evacuees used to wait at the port for Indian vessels to help them escape the war-torn country. "Thankfully, mobile communication did not collapse, which helped in spreading the message of naval ships coming in for rescue," informed Captain Dhankar.

Once civilians were brought on-board, the most common problem that the medical officers faced was dehydration, apart from people with other ailments like diabetes. In fact, the food that was served on-board was specially prepared keeping in mind the needs of diabetic individuals, and those with blood pressure problems.

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