Center launches “Operation Ganga” to repatriate citizens trapped in Ukraine via Romania, Hungary.
India Saturday evacuated its citizens from Ukraine via Romania and Hungary in the so-called ‘Operation Ganga.’ The dangerous evacuation occurred during the war when an Indian expert, currently sitting in an underground tunnel in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, was described as “hell.” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said he was “personally monitoring” the situation.”
The first Air India flight from Romania arrived in Mumbai at 7.50 pm. A second flight from Romania with 250 Indians is expected to arrive in Delhi on Sunday morning. Air India also operates a flight from Hungary.
At the same time, it has been reported that Indian officials in Ukraine are facing increasing difficulty in deporting Indians from neighboring Russian forces and closing off the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and directing several other vital cities on land and air.
In a telephone interview with Zelenskyy, Modi expressed India’s deep concern for the safety and security of its citizens in Ukraine and called on the Ukrainian authorities to “expedite and securely” deport the Indians, the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) said in a statement.
Currently, about 16,000 Indians are trapped in Ukraine.
As gunfire, bombings, and rocket attacks continue to shake in various parts of Ukraine, the Indian ambassador to Kyiv on Saturday called on his people to be vigilant and not cross any border to leave the country without prior contact with their officials.
He especially advised Indians living in the eastern parts of Ukraine to stay in their current settlements and to stay in houses or shelters as much as possible.
“Those currently in the Orient are urged to remain in their residences until further notice, to remain calm and to stay in their homes or shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water, and resources available and to remain patient,” the embassy said.
“Avoid needless movement. We also remind you to be vigilant at all times, to be aware of your surroundings and to the latest developments,” he added.
It also asked all Indians not to travel to any part of the border without prior contact with Indian officials.
“All Indian citizens in Ukraine are advised not to relocate to any border posts without prior contact with the Indian government of border officials and to the Indian embassy emergency numbers in Kyiv,” the embassy said.
It also asked all Indians not to travel to any part of the border without prior contact with Indian officials.
“All Indian citizens in Ukraine are advised not to relocate to any border posts without prior contact with the Indian government of border officials and to the Indian embassy emergency numbers in Kyiv,” the ambassador said.
He said the situation at various border checkpoints was sensitive, and the ambassador continued to work with Indian equipment in neighboring countries to deport civilians.
“The embassy finds it very difficult to help cross those Indian states that arrive at the border checkpoint without prior notice,” he said.
On Friday, India managed to set up camp offices in the cities of Lviv and Chernivtsi in western Ukraine to facilitate the transport of Indians to Hungary, Romania, and Poland.
India has also replaced Zahony border officials in Hungary, Krakowiec, the Shehyni-Medyka border in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic, and the Suceava transit point in Romania to coordinate the exit of Indian people from Ukraine.
India is trying to evacuate its people across the Ukrainian border with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia after the Ukrainian government shut down the country plane following an attack by Russian troops.
The Indian ambassador to Hungary said the first batch of Indian students had entered Ukraine via transit to Budapest to return to India earlier Saturday.
After 219 Indians boarded an Air India flight from Bucharest to Mumbai, Jaishankar wrote that progress was being made in evacuating the Indians.
“Our teams work on the ground day and night. I am careful,” he said.
Jaishankar also conveyed “heartfelt thanks” to Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu for his co-operation.
The Air India flight departed from Bucharest in Mumbai at 7.50 pm.
“Our work is not yet complete until we send the last person from Ukraine to India. I wish you all a very safe journey home,” the Romanian ambassador to Romania Rahul Shrivastava told Indian students who boarded the first exit flight.
“When you talk to your friends who are waiting to be released, you should tell them and reassure them that the entire Indian government team is working around the clock, including all the officials here, to get everyone out,” the envoy said.
In a related incident, Foreign Minister V Muraleedharan nearly contacted the parents of students trapped in Ukraine.
Mr. Varma painted a bleak picture of the Russian attack and said that the attacks on arrows and rockets took place not far from their shelter. “I went out to check on 2 am, and it was hell outside,” he said.
The situation is quickly out of control as the Ukrainian government distributes thousands of small arms and automatic weapons to civilians, urging them to fight the invading Russians.
“They listen to and respond to issues that affect the safety and well-being of their children. He has passed on the government’s commitment to bring every student back safely,” he said on Twitter.
Edited by- Subbuthai Padma
Published by- Radhika. N
