New Delhi, July 18: As conflict in Lebanon escalates, India on July 17 evacuated 49 Indians from Beirut and issued a safety advisory to nearly 12,000 Indians living in that country.

An Indian Army soldier with the UN peacekeeping force was "slightly" wounded as Israel stepped up its offensive in Lebanon, officials here said.

There were, however, no plans to move out the remaining 600-odd Indian troops as the UN would have to take this decision, the officials added.

"We are putting in place a contingency plan for assisting and possibly evacuating our nationals should the need arise," Rajiv Sikri, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs told reporters.

"The crisis in Lebanon has been escalating over the last few days and it is our expectation that it is likely to worsen in the coming days, particularly in Southern Lebanon which may come under heavy Israeli attack," he said, adding that 49 Indians were taken in two buses to Syrian capital Damascus.

About 12,000 Indians living in Lebanon have been advised to contact the Indian Embassy in Beirut so that arrangements can be made to move them to safety, Sikri added.

New Delhi is also in constant touch with Tel Aviv to ensure safe evacuation of Indians from Lebanon. Besides, four ships of the Indian Navy that had crossed the Suez Canal have been asked to go back to the Mediterranean and position themselves off the Lebanese coast.

"In view of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, all Indian nationals living in Lebanon, particularly in southern Lebanon, are advised to take suitable precautions regarding their personal safety," an advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Beirut said.

"All Indian nationals are advised to remain in contact with the embassy of India in Beirut. Indian nationals have been also advised to keep their travel documents ready in all respects and to seek the assistance of the embassy of India in this regard, if necessary," the advisory said.

Those Indian nationals who are desirous of leaving Lebanon and are able to cross over to Syria, may contact the Indian Embassy in Damascus for advice and assistance to enable them to return to India, the advisory said.

Israel, meanwhile, has "regretted" the incident in which the Indian soldier was wounded, ministry officials said.

The Israeli reaction came after the ministry took up the issue with Tel Aviv, the officials said.

The soldier was only "slightly wounded", an army spokesman here said, adding it was unclear how the incident happened.

The remaining 671 officers and men of the fourth battalion of the Sikh Regiment serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL) were safe, he stated.

"Our boys are secure and well-stocked. We are in constant communication with them and have asked them not to leave their compound (headquarters) till the situation improves," he added.

Colonel S.C. Panwar commands the unit. A battalion of the Ghana Army is also deployed nearby.

Their mandate is to monitor the Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, a task that has extended some two decades.

Thus far, there are no moves to pull the Indian soldiers out.

"They are under the UN flag. Any decision on whether they stay, should be re-deployed or should be pulled out will be taken at the UN headquarters based on the assessment of the UN commander on the ground," the spokesman maintained.

Another 187 Indian Army officers and men are deployed as UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights on the Israel-Syria border but are not affected by the hostilities in the region.