116 Indians evacuated from Kyrgyz cities; to return in 2-3 days

All the 116 Indians, stranded in violence-hit southern Kyrgyz towns of Osh and Jalal-Abad, have been evacuated to capital Bishkek and will return in next two-three days as the death toll in five days of ethnic clashes climbed to 124.

"All the Indian nationals stranded in the southern Kyrgyz towns of Osh and Jalal-Abad were safely evacuated last night by air to Bishkek," a statement by the ministry of external affairs said in New Delhi today.

They are expected to come back to the country in next two-three days, official sources told PTI.

Flights out of Bishkek are operating normally, the ministry said adding the airlift of the Indian citizens was arranged by the embassy of India in Bishkek with the active cooperation and support of the Kyrgyz authorities.

According to Kyrgyz officials, 124 people have died and 1,685 people injured in the clashes since last week. However, ethnic Uzbeks alleged many more have been killed and accused government forces of helping Kyrgyz mobs in their deadly rampage.