The first batch of stranded Indians was evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan under Operation Kaveri on Tuesday. A total of 278 people departed from Port Sudan onboard INS Sumedha for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, said a spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs. The evacuation comes a day after the MEA announced that India had launched an operation to bring back around 3,000 Indians stranded in Sudan. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had said that around 500 citizens have already reached Port Sudan. "Our ships and aircraft are set to bring them back home. We are committed to assisting all our brethren in Sudan," Jaishankar had tweeted. The MEA had said in a statement that India has also positioned two IAF C-130J on standby in Jeddah.