News Desk, AnyTV, New Delhi
Published by: Gaurav Pandey
Updated Sun, 27 Feb 2022 06:49 PM IST
Summary
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla informed about the Operation Ganga launched by the government to rescue Indians stranded in Ukraine.
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Expansion
The Foreign Secretary said that our embassy in Kiev (Ukraine capital) has issued several advisories in view of the changing circumstances. 4000 of our citizens had already left Ukraine before the conflict in accordance with these advisories. He further said that we had estimated that about 15,000 Indian citizens were trapped in war-torn Ukraine.
He further said that since the airspace in Ukraine is closed, we have identified exit points from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania. Special border crossing points were identified and the Ministry of External Affairs deployed its teams to assist in the evacuation process. Ukraine has closed the airspace for civilian flights.
Shared list of flights scheduled under Operation Ganga
Shringla said that so far, aircraft carrying many of our citizens have taken off from Romania and Hungary under Operation Ganga and about a thousand others are being evacuated from Ukraine by land. Flights have been arranged for them. He also shared the list of flights to evacuate Indians via neighboring countries.
The Foreign Secretary said that border crossings are underway for Hungary and Romania. However, the exit point in Poland has been blocked as millions of foreign nationals are trying to leave. Those who are present near the borders of Hungary and Romania are being asked to move towards the border points in a phased manner.
Shringla said that I have spoken separately to the ambassadors of both the countries of Russia and Ukraine and shared my concerns regarding the safety of Indian citizens. I have shared with him the information about the places where Indian citizens are present. Both the ambassadors have taken note of our concerns and have assured the safety of Indian citizens.