Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has left for Jeddah to spearhead "Operation Kaveri" to rescue Indians from the war-torn Sudan.

The trip is on the direct instructions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Union Minister will reach Jeddah on Tuesday morning.

The mission to evacuate Indians, including Malayalis, who are stuck in Sudan, where the civil conflict has erupted, is continuing.

Navy's INS Sumedha arrived at Sudan port as part of a mission. Around 500 Indians have been brought to the port city of Port Sudan.

Indian Air Force's C130J aircraft is ready at Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Muraleedharan was entrusted the charge of the mission by the Prime Minister at the Yuvam event in Kochi on Monday evening.

(With UNI inputs)