IAF's C-17 Aircraft to join 'Operation Ganga' for Evacuating Indians Stranded in Ukraine
The Government of India is running 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens and students trapped in Ukraine. The government has decided to intensify this mission being run from neighbouring countries of Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Air Force to join 'Operation Ganga'. Following the instructions of the PM, Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft can start flying under 'Operation Ganga' from Tuesday. So far, more than 8 thousand Indian citizens and students have returned home from Ukraine. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Indian citizens and students have reached neighbouring countries, Romania, Hungary and Poland, from where the government is evacuating civilians through special planes.
Indians arriving in neighbouring countries of Ukraine
Image Credit: Twitter
Temporary camps have been set up for Indian citizens arriving in these neighbouring countries of Ukraine. The governments here have given them accommodation, food and medical facilities. The special thing is that Indian citizens do not have visas of these countries, yet these countries have come forward to help the citizens in distress. On helping Indians, Prime Minister Modi spoke to the Prime Minister of Romania on Monday and thanked him.
Tuesday marks the sixth day of Russian attacks in Ukraine. The Russian army invaded Ukraine on 24 February. Since then, Indian citizens started arriving in Ukraine's neighbouring countries from other cities including the capital Kyiv. Ukraine's airspace has been closed since the Russian attack, due to which no civilian aircraft are allowed to land in this country. Because of the situation in Ukraine, the Indian government wants to expel its citizens rapidly. PM Modi has said that apart from its citizens, India will also evacuate the citizens of its neighbouring and developing countries from there.
With the addition of Air Force planes, the process of return of Indians will accelerate, and their numbers will also increase. Simultaneously, relief material being sent from India will also reach faster. Several C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force may start flying under Operation Ganga today. An Air India Express plane carrying 182 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine from Bucharest, the capital of Romania, reached Mumbai on Tuesday morning. Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane welcomed these citizens at the Mumbai airport.
