Ukraine crisis: 400 Indians to be brought back on Tuesday
Darpan News Desk IANS, 07 Mar, 2022 01:27 PM
New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) Civilian flights are expected to bring back 400 Indian nationals from Suceva, Romania, under 'Operation Ganga' on Tuesday.
The Centre has initiated an airlift operation to evacuate Indians, who have found their way to neighbouring countries of war-torn Ukraine.
It has deployed a number of special charter as well as Indian Air Force flights to ferry back citizens. "Tomorrow, two special civilian flights are expected to operate from Suceva, bringing in more than 400 Indians back home," a statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
"Under 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens, 1,314 Indians have been airlifted today by seven special civilian flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries. With this, more than 17,400 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on 22nd February, 2022."
According to the statement, on Monday, four special civilian flights landed in New Delhi while two reached Mumbai. "One flight is expected late in the evening. There were five flights from Budapest, and one each from Bucharest and Suceava."
Besides, the statement said that the number of Indians airlifted by 73 special civilian flights has gone up to 15,206.
Furthermore, it said that one C-17 IAF flight, with 201 Indians onboard, is expected to arrive on Monday evening. "IAF had earlier flown 10 sorties to bring back 2,056 passengers, as part of the 'Operation Ganga'."
Also, guided by India's motto of the world being one family, the Prime Minister said that India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing nations who are stranded in Ukraine, seeking assistance.
There are currently 14 major medical colleges in Ukraine in which more than 18,000 Indian students are pursuing MBBS and BDS courses. Out of these, about 1,000 have returned home while efforts are on to bring back the rest.
Modi thanked Heger for the assistance provided by Slovakia in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, and for permitting special evacuation flights from India. He asked for Slovakia's continued assistance in the next few days with India undertaking a mission to evacuate other citizens from conflict zones.
Sidhu has urged the apex court not to punish him with a jail term in a 1988 road rage case in which he was let off with a meagre fine of Rs 1,000. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing Gurnam Singh's family, submitted that he has moved an application seeking enlargement of the scope of the notice issued.
With Ukraine closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation in the country on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has asked the Indian nationals to start moving towards the bordering areas so that they can be evacuated safely.
The Indian Embassy in Kiev stated that the helpline numbers are being set up at the respective check-points to facilitate evacuation through the borders. These control rooms will be based in Poland, Romania and Hungary and they will be managed by the Indian officials posted in those countries.
