Around 1400 Indians evacuated says Ministry of External Affairs

According to the central government on Monday, a total of six evacuation aircraft have landed in India carrying 1,400 Indian citizens who were stuck in war-torn Ukraine as a result of the Russian military assault.

“As of now, six flights have arrived carrying around 1,400 Indian citizens. Four flights have arrived from Bucharest (Romania) and two flights from Budapest (Hungary),” said Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs.

He further stated that 8,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine after India’s government issued an advice.

Bagchi further revealed that India will dispatch four senior ministers to Ukraine’s border countries to assist in the rescue of tens of thousands of citizens.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union minister of civil aviation, will oversee the evacuation of stranded Indians in Romania and Moldova, while Kiren Rijiju, the Union minister of law, will travel to Slovakia.

Hardeep Singh Puri, the minister of petroleum and natural gas, will oversee operations in Hungary, while Gen (Retd) VK Singh, the minister of state for road transport, will oversee evacuations in Poland.

From Saturday, India began evacuating its citizens from Romania and Hungary, Ukraine’s neighbouring countries.

This comes as the sixth evacuation flight from Budapest, Hungary’s capital, arrived in Delhi on Monday, carrying 240 Indian nationals. Earlier in the day, the sixth evacuation flight arrived in Delhi from Bucharest, Romania’s capital.

On Sunday, the country evacuated 688 more individuals from Ukraine’s war-torn country on three Air India aircraft, and said it was in contact with other nations in the region to ensure the return of all its trapped citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with senior authorities to discuss evacuation plans, as fears in India grew over the safety of the 16,000 Indians remaining in Ukraine, the most of whom are students.

According to government estimates, Indians make up nearly a quarter of the 76,000 international students studying in Ukraine, mostly on medical courses.

Advisory by Indian embassy in Ukraine

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine has issued a second warning to Indian nationals, advising them to go to the railway station because the city’s weekend curfew has been lifted.

Kyiv’s weekend curfew has been lifted. All students are advised to proceed to the railway station in order to continue their journey to the western areas of the country.

Ukraine Railways is also putting special trains in place for evacuations, according to the report. It urged Indian citizens and students to maintain calm, peace, and unity.

According to the advisory, “a significant crowd might be expected at the railway stations; therefore, all Indian students should be calm, composed, and especially not exhibit violent behaviour when at the railway stations.”

It also warned students of the possibility of train delays, perhaps cancellations, and huge lines. To guarantee easy mobility, it advised Indian students to bring their passports, adequate cash, ready-to-eat meals, easily accessible winter gear, and only essential stuff.

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