Under ‘Operation Ganga’, launched by the Government of India to evacuate Indian citizens from Ukraine through the neighbouring countries, more than 20,000 Indians have been brought back by special flights so far. ‘Operation Ganga’ has been a very successful evacuation overseen closely by Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar.
The Indian Air Force and multiple private airlines have been involved in this operation. Government of India also deputed four Union Ministers as Prime Minister's Special Envoy to Ukraine's neighbouring countries viz. Union Minister Shri Hardeep Puri to Hungary, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia to Romania and Moldova, Shri Kiren Rijiju to Slovakia and Gen (Retd.) V K Singh to Poland, to oversee the evacuation process.
Between 24 February and 7 March 2022, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Ukrainian President H.E.Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President, H.E. Vladimir Putin, on several occasions, to discuss the evolving situation and to request for a ceasefire to create humanitarian corridors for facilitating evacuation of civilians and Indian students.
As the crisis unfolded, there were more than 20,000 Indians including about 18,000 students in Ukraine. So far, more than 75 special civilian flights and 12 Indian Air Force Mission have been operated to evacuate almost all the stranded Indians. As the ‘Operation Ganga’ entered its final leg, India was also able to move more than 600 Indian students out of Sumy, due to intervention from the highest level. These students will be soon flying back to India from Poland.
While evacuating its own nationals, India offered helping hand to the nationals of its neighbouring countries. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised Prime Minister Modi, on 09 March, for rescuing nine of Bangladeshi residents from Ukraine.
The ‘Operation Ganga’ shows commitment of Government of India towards Indian diaspora.
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