900 Indians to leave Lebanon today

After evacuation of 602 Indians from Lebanon, about 900 more are being pulled out from the trouble-torn country by sea today.

Arrangements are also being made for bringing home the mortal remains of Debesh Kumar Swain who died in an Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. Around 900 Indian nationals will be evacuated from Beirut by naval warships, four of which are positioned off the Lebanese coast for the purpose.

They would reach Cyprus on Monday, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) said in New Delhi on Saturday. Two Air India planes are being sent to transport them from Cyprus to Mumbai and Chennai, it said.

Altogether 602 Indian evacuees were airlifted on Friday night to Chennai and Mumbai from Cyprus by two Air India planes. These people were pulled out from Lebanon on Thursday and reached Larnaca in Cyprus on Friday morning.

Swain's body is also being brought via Damascus and is expected to reach Bhubaneshwar on Sunday, the MOIA said.

Swain, an employee of a glass factory, had gone missing after Israeli bombardment. His body was found on Friday. Three other Indians were also injured in the incident.