“We are putting in place plans for possible evacuation (of Indians) by land, air and sea from Libya,” External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said in a suo motu statement in the two Houses of Parliament on Wednesday.
India is also closely monitoring the situation in Yemen and Bahrain, two other Arab countries currently witnessing protests against dictatorial regimes. There are around 3,50,000 Indians in Bahrain and 14,000 in Yemen.
Unlike those evacuated from Cairo recently by special Air India flights, those returning from Libya would not have to pay for their return journey, Krishna clarified. He said a commercial Indian ship anchored near Egypt could be used for evacuation.
Published 22 February 2011, 15:35 IST