Four Union Ministers will reach Ukraine’s neighboring countries to help the evacuation of Indian students trapped in the middle of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with the top officials and ministers to discuss the situation of people stranded in Ukraine amidst war and trying to leave the war-stricken land.
Ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and VK Singh will fly to the neighboring countries of Ukraine as special envoys of India to speed up the evacuation.
Jyotiraditya Scindia will fly to Romania and Moldova; Kiren Rijiju will be in charge of Slovakia, Hardeep Puri will reach Hungary, while VK Singh will be flying to Poland.
The PM has reportedly cleared the air that the safety of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine will be the ‘priority of the government’. He has called for two special meetings in two days.
On Sunday evening, the Prime Minister held a meeting with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, among others, to discuss the developments.
Also Read: PM Modi holds high level meeting amid Ukraine crisis
Visuals Floating On Social Media:
Visuals of hundreds of Indians stranded in Ukrainian borders have been floating on social media.
Reportedly about 16,000 Indian students are there in Ukraine, either finding protection in bunkers, bomb shelters and hostel basements or trying to escape out.
Opposition party leader–Priyanka Gandhi took to Twitter and shared a clip of a girl trapped in Ukraine seeking help from PM Modi and External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar.
…@narendramodi जी, @DrSJaishankar जी यूक्रेन से आ रहे भारतीय छात्र-छात्राओं के वीडियो मन को बहुत ही ज्यादा व्यथित करने वाले हैं। इन बच्चों को भारत वापस लाने के लिए जो कुछ भी बन पड़ता है , भगवान के लिए, वह करिए। पूरा देश इन छात्र-छात्राओं और इनके परिवारों के साथ है।…1/2 pic.twitter.com/PfmBw8McLY
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 27, 2022
A handful of students could come back to their motherland just before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine last Thursday, and Ukraine shut its airspace.
Many students stuck in Ukraine are trying to reach the border to board Air India evacuation flights arranged from Ukraine’s neighboring countries like Romania, Hungary, Slovak Republic and Poland.
Many students have alleged that they covered the distances to borders on foot in sub-zero temperatures, but to their dismay, they could not cross over and received hardly any help from officials.
Indian Embassy In Ukraine:
On February 27, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine released an advisory, wherein it stated Indian students are been evacuated via Romania and Hungary. The Indian government is working out with Ukraine’s neighboring countries to open up their borders to let the Indian students’ crossover.
Important Advisory to all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine as on 27 February 2022.@MEAIndia @PMOIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNational @DDNewslive @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/WGbFvMiGge
— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 27, 2022
On Monday, the Indian embassy in Ukraine advised students to reach railway stations to board special trains for evacuation.
“Weekend curfew lifted in Kyiv. All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for an onward journey to the western parts. Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations.”
Weekend curfew lifted in Kyiv. All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts.
Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations.— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 28, 2022
How Is Govt. Bringing Indian People Back From Ukraine?
Operation Ganga:
The government of India launched ‘Operation Ganga’ to bring back Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine to their homeland. Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla has said the government would bear the expenses concerning the evacuation of Indian people from Ukraine.
Since Ukraine had closed its airspace, Indian evacuation aircraft have been flying out of Bucharest, Romania, and Budapest, Hungary.
India is carrying out the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine through its land border crossings with Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
The first “Operation Ganga” evacuation flight arrived in Mumbai on February 26, carrying 219 people back from Bucharest. So far, six batches of flights carrying Indian People have arrived in the country.
Here Are The Series Of Updates Tweeted By Dr S Jaishankar:
Sixth #OperationGanga flight from Budapest. To Delhi with 240 Indian nationals. https://t.co/T8QXL2BLUI
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 28, 2022
Moving forward in bringing Indians home.
Fifth #OperationGanga flight departs Bucharest for Delhi with 249 Indian nationals. https://t.co/x2VQd3j4Nd
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 27, 2022
Fourth #OperationGanga flight is wheels up from Bucharest.
198 Indian nationals are coming back to Delhi. https://t.co/ONUsu1qYk6
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 27, 2022
Third flight of #OperationGanga with 240 Indian nationals has taken off from Budapest for Delhi.
Köszönöm szépen FM Peter Szijjártó. pic.twitter.com/22EHK3RK3V
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022
#OperationGanga continues.
The second flight from Bucharest has taken off for Delhi with 250 Indian nationals. pic.twitter.com/zml6OPNirN
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022
Welcome back.
First step of #OperationGanga. https://t.co/4DgLIc7GYM
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022
Indians who crossed the border into Romania and Hungary intended to be driven to Bucharest and Budapest and then flown back to India.