Relief writ large on their faces, over 530 Indians returned home from Libya in two batches late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, flown to New Delhi by two special Air India flights, and recounted tales of horror during their last days in that country. Around 88 others crossed over by road from Libya to Ras Jedir in Tunisia by Saturday night. All 88 worked for Punj Lloyd. Another 170 Indians are likely to reach there Sunday.
While the first flight which landed at the IGI Airport here carried 291 Indians, the second one had over 235 on board. Minister of state for external affairs E. Ahamed, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, other top officials and the resident commissioners of several states were on hand to receive the evacuees.
Many of those who returned early Sunday still looked fearful after their experiences in Libya. Mohammed Sali, from Kochi in Kerala, who has lived there for 31 years, said many went without food and water for days. “Ever since the protests began, people started fearing for their lives. I along with a few Indians were stuck in a camp for two days and some people looted all our belongings,” he said. n More on Page 5