IAF's transport aircraft could be sent to Libya: Antony

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Indian Defence Minister A K
Antony Tuesday said Indian Air Force's transport aircraft
could be sent to Libya to evacuate Indian citizens stranded
there if the need arises.
"Navy has also sent its ships. Air Force also is
ready. Whether it is Libya or other capitals, if the
Government wants their service, they can also be sent," he
said.
The Defence Minister was talking to reporters on the
sidelines of a ceremony to flag-in Indian Army's expedition to
the South Pole.
The IAF has kept its IL-76 aircraft on stand-by mode
for the operations at different air fields in the country. An
IL-76 can carry more than 300 passengers at one go.
The Navy has already sent two ships to Libya
including the amphibious vessel INS Jalashwa and Delhi-class
destroyer INS Delhi to help in evacuating 18,000 Indian
citizens there.
On the evacuation effort by India, Indian Navy chief
Admiral Nirmal Verma said, "Evacuation is taking place from
Tripoli and Benghazi and the External Affairs Ministry has
hired ferry boats going to Alexandria, Egypt (for
evacuation)."
"18,000 is a large number and eventually we would be
pressed to evacuate. The numbers we can carry is substantial.
On Jalashwa we can carry 1500 in one ferry, so I see there
would be enough work to be done," he said.
The Navy chief was responding to queries on the Libyan
evacuation efforts on the sidelines of a two-day
hydrographers' conference.
Air India is also operating two flights daily to
Tripoli and has sought permission to land in the interior
parts of Libya where over 1,000 Indians are believed to be
stranded.
Already more than 1,000 passengers have been brought
back to the country in the special flights operated by the
national carrier.