India shuts down oilfields, evacuates employees from South Sudan

A representive picture of an oilfield (Pic: India TV) 

NEW DELHI (AA) - India has evacuated all its employees of state-owned ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) and shut down oilfields on Monday amid escalating violence in South Sudan.

All 11 executives working on 40,000 barrel per day Greater Nile Oil Project and Block 5A have been evacuated in two batches, Press Trust of India reported.

The Indian executives were airlifted after shutting down the operation at the oilfield run by ONGC. The oilfield was shut down on Sunday.

All the employees arrived in India safely.

India has advised its nationals to leave the troubled nation and most of Indians have already left it or are in the process of leaving South Sudan.

"Most Indian nationals in South Sudan have already left or are in the process of leaving following advice by India's embassy in Juba," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin wrote on his Twitter page.

"Indian embassy in Juba (capital) is in touch with Indian associations and companies employing Indian nationals to ensure safety and security," he tweeted.

The advisory by the foreign ministry was issued last week after fighting spread through South Sudan.

According to one estimate, there are 250-300 Indians in South Sudan.

The fight in South Sudan has killed at least 500 people including two Indian UN peacekeepers.

Anadolu Agency, December 23, 2013