New Delhi: Mounting its efforts to evacuate stranded citizens from Ukraine, India in its first advisory for the day, instructed all Indians to leave Kyiv urgently by any means of transport available.
All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available,” read the latest advisory from the Indian Embassy in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, PM Modi after his second high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis, pressed the Indian Air force to engage in commercial service to evacuate stranded in the war-torn country.
The IAF is likely to deploy several C-17 aircraft under Operation Ganga to airlift stranded nationals. “In order to scale up the ongoing evacuation efforts under Operational Ganga, PM Modi has called for the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts. Leveraging the capacities of our Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame,” the sources said. The IAF would also deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which has been crippled essential supplies amidst the invasion.
Earlier today, AI express flight with 182 Indians lifted from the Romanian capital Bucharest landed in Mumbai. The flight IX-1202 from Bucharest touched down the runway at 7:40 am, people in the know said. This was the second repatriation flight operated from Mumba to Bucharest since February 27th.
Air India owned by Tata Group has engaged several aircraft under Vande Bharat Mission and Operation Ganga to evacuate those stranded in Ukraine since Russia launched its special military operation. On Saturday, Air India had operated the first chartered flight to CSMIA from Bucharest with 219 Indian evacuees from Ukraine. So far 1,396 Indian nationals have been bought back from Ukraine in six evacuation flights deployed. Around 16,000 Indians are still stuck in Ukraine, govt officials.