The C—17 aircraft was brought via Uganda and the minister also met the Ugandan Prime minister Ruhakana Rugunda who on his part assured of all help.

The first Indian Air force flight C-17 carrying 156 Indians evacuated from war-ravaged South Sudan arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram International airport here in the early hours of Friday. The evacuees, including those hailing from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and two from Nepal, were accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K.Singh, who led the operation titled ‘Sankat Mochan’.

"There were around 550 Indians residing in Juba, the capital. When we landed, 156 came out with us including 9 women and 3 children. There were 30-40 people who had already booked their tickets when the commercial flights started. There were about 300 people who did not want to be evacuated due to their business concerns and other activities that they have out there. I also met the Vice President of South Sudan and spoke about the situation there. He gave me a run down as to how things have happened and what they are doing to ensure safety and security in Juba and rest of South Sudan," Mr.Singh told reporters at the airport.

South Sudan has been in the throes of a civil war for the past few days, with the forces loyal to the President Salva Kiir and those siding with Vice President Riek Machar on the opposite sides.

Many of the Keralites evacuated from Juba have been living and working in that city for more than a decade. 32-year old Arunkumar, hailing from Kudappanakkunnu in Thiruvananthapuram, went to Juba 12 years back, to set up his air-conditioning business.

“Our house was situated right in the middle of the conflict zone. The vehicles parked outside and the walls of our house were damaged in the shelling. For two days, a group of us had to live without any food. Power supply was cut off too. We were in constant touch with the Indian authorities, including the ambassador and NORKA, the association of non-resident Keralites. We used to exchange updates constantly on whatsapp,” Mr.Arunkumar told The Hindu.

He runs a company which employs 35 Indians, out of which 5 people chose to stay behind. Even Arunkumar and several others who run businesses there are set to return to Juba in a short time, when the situation is expected to improve.

“We can’t stay away from there for long. Most of us have invested heavily there and have professional commitments, which we have to honour. Staying back here is not an option. More than 50 percent of the business there is run by Indians,” said Arunkumar.

Arjun Kottayi, another evacuee, has been running a computer peripherals business in Juba for the past 7 years. He returned home with his wife and 4-year old daughter.

State Power Minister Kadakampally Surendran and District Collector Biju Prabhakar were part of the team which received the evacuees at the airport.