Over a dozen ‘Operation Ganga’ flights to bring back Indian Nationals evacuated from Ukraine today
External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar has said that another 13 flights under Operation Ganga will bring home 2500 Indian nationals stranded in war-torn Ukraine today. More than 13 thousand Indian nationals have already returned to India from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries under Operation Ganga.
Briefing media in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that 15 flights have landed in the last 24 hours with around 2 thousand 900 passengers onboard yesterday. He said, almost all Indians have now left Kharkiv city which is very a positive development as the area remained a cause of concern from the last few days.
Mr Bagchi said that the main area of focus is now in Sumy of Ukraine and India is in touch with all concerned regarding the possible movements of the students and the best option for it would be a ceasefire. He said, for this India have been strongly pressing Russian and Ukrainian sides to allow this kind of local ceasefire to create a safe corridor for Indian students.
Indian Embassy in Ukraine said that all Indian citizens have been evacuated from Pisochyn and it will continue to remain in touch with them through their journey. In a tweet, the Embassy said that their safety has always been India’s priority. It has urged the Indian citizens to be safe and strong.
Meanwhile, another batch of passengers from war-hit Ukraine has arrived in Mumbai in the early hours today via a special flight under Operation Ganga. An Air India Express flight has flown back 182 people mostly students studying in Ukraine from Romania’s capital Bucharest. Union Minister of State For Panchayati Raj Kapil Patil welcomed them at the airport.
A C-17 aircraft of Indian Air Force landed at Hindan airbase near Delhi this morning with 210 Indian nationals ev