India’s rescue of nationals stranded in Odessa, Ukraine

Indian nationals stranded in Odessa, Ukraine, were evacuated to Romania via Moldova. The Indian Embassy in Romania is planning a transit of Indian nationals stuck in Odessa (Ukraine) to Bucharest (Romania) via Moldova in collaboration with Moldovan authorities. Because Moldova’s airspace is closed, Indians are being sent to Bucharest. The Ukrainian Embassy is organising two bus routes: one for those crossing the Palanca border (Ukraine-Moldova) and being sent directly to Romania without stopping in Moldova, and the other for those crossing the Palanca border (Ukraine-Moldova) and being sent directly to Romania without stopping in Moldova. Another option for those in the camps in and around Chisinău, the Romanian capital.

The bus service is provided at no cost. Around 250 students have crossed the border into Romania since March 1. They were all transported right across the border to Romania (Bucharest) via buses coordinated by the Embassy. About 80-100 nationals left in and around Chisinău (Capital), with the majority departing by bus today (March 02).

The Indian Embassy in Bucharest is assisting Indian nationals with flights as part of Operation Ganga. The Embassy, in collaboration with Romanian authorities, has guaranteed that special flights out of Romania do not require a visa.

Since the initial advisories were issued, it is estimated that around 17000 Indian nationals had left Ukraine. This includes some Indians who had not previously registered with the Indian Embassy in Kyiv.

The number of flights in Operation Ganga has been increased. Six Operation Ganga flights have landed in India in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of flights to 15. Eight flights came from Bucharest, five from Budapest, and two from Rzeszow. The details of these flights are as follows: 

A total of 3352 Indians have returned on these flights. 1796 of them were evacuated via Romania, 430 via Poland, and 1126 via Hungary. Over the next 24 hours, 15 flights are scheduled, with many of them already on their way. The following is a proposed schedule for these flights.

The Indian Air Force has joined Operation Ganga, and the first C-17 flight from Bucharest is scheduled to arrive in Delhi later tonight. Today, three additional IAF flights will take off from Budapest, Rzeszow, and Bucharest.

Humanitarian aid is being delivered to Ukraine in stages, including medicines, medical equipment, tents, blankets, solar lamps, and other items. The very first consignment, weighing 2 tonnes and containing medicines, was transported through Poland on March 1, and three further tranches (tents, blankets, sleeping mats, etc. – 16 x 2 tonnes) were sent through Romania and Poland on March 2 (1 by IAF flight).

The MEA Control Room, as well as the Control Centres run by Indian embassies in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic, are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To date, the MEA Control Room has answered 9874 calls and 7657 emails.

An Indian student from Karnataka was killed in shelling in Ukraine’s Kharkiv on Tuesday. Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, a 21-year-old medical student from Karnataka, was killed by Russian shelling while waiting in line at a grocery store.