Friday, July 21 2006 10:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Two special planes will bring back home from Larnaka in Cyprus today 608 Indians who were evacuated from the trouble-torn Lebanon.

The 608 people, including 23 women and four children, were evacuated yesterday by naval warship INS Mumbai as the Indian Navy launched Operation Sukoon, the biggest ever civilian rescue exercise overseas.

Besides Indians, the warship also ferried 13 people from other countries including Nepal and Sri Lanka. Among those rescued were Lebanese Indians and Indian Americans.

"These people will be brought to Mumbai by two Air India aircraft later today," Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed told sources.

With requests for evacuation being received from hundreds of other Indians amid escalation of fighting, another warship INS Brahmaputra is expected to reach Beirut port today to rescue more people.

Two more warships INS Shakti and INS Betwa are near the Beirut port and will enter the harbour one by one to rescue about 12,000 Indians living in Lebanon. Over 100 have already been evacuated by road to Syrian capital Damascus.

Indian Embassy in Beirut continues to receive requests for evacuation from Indian nationals and is processing these in consultation with the local authorities, officials said yesterday.