Third batch of Indian evacuees return

Tuesday, July 25, 2006 (Chennai/New Delhi):Navy's 'Operation Sukoon' rescued the third batch of 800 Indians from Lebanon who were flown back to India early Tuesday morning. It is an emotional homecoming for the citizens but a majority of them around 10,000 are still in the danger zone. Some are waiting to be rescued while others have chosen to brave the war for the sake of their livelihood. Their faces clearly showed relief as they walked out of the Chennai airport to the waiting buses. More than 423 Indian evacuees from war-torn Lebanon arrived in Chennai from Cyprus in the morning. Another 424 evacuees arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and for most home-coming, this time round was a very emotional affair. "One of my closest friends was left behind, I am very concerned about her, said a person who returned. Grand welcome At the Chennai Airport, the evacuees were given a grand welcome with the state government even providing Rs 500 to each evacuee. Most of these evacuees say that leaving behind their livelihoods was painful, but necessary. "The situation in Lebanon is very bad. That is why we had to come back," an Indian evacuee. While these people have arrived safely, many more are queuing up at the Indian embassy in Lebanon. The government says it will carry on with its operation to bring back all Indians to safety. Two batches of 476 evacuees have already arrived on July 22 and 23.