Operation Ganga: IAF's C-17 with 208 Indian nationals from Ukraine reaches Hindon airbase
Operation Ganga: Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the third Indian Air Force's C-17 aircraft carrying 208 Indian citizens from Ukraine landed at the Hindon airbase near Delhi from Rzeszow in Poland on Thursday. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt received the Indian citizens on their arrival and interacted with them.
While talking to ANI, students said that they brought pets along with them. "I have brought my friend's dog with me from Ukraine. Many people who had dogs left them behind in Ukraine but I brought back this dog along with me", said Zahid, a student rescued from Ukraine.
Also Read: Operation Ganga: 6 flights with 1,377 stranded citizens departed for India in 24 hours
Gautam, who has brought back his pet cat from Ukraine, said the cat had been with him for the last four months. He further said that the cat had stayed with him in the bunker.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued orders to the Air Force to pitch in the rescue operations to augment the level of Operation Ganga.
Notably, the American C-17 Globemasters and IL-76 transport aircraft are the most capable of flying long distances with around 400 passengers. The C-17 transport aircraft had helped in a big way in evacuating citizens and officials from Kabul when the Taliban captured Afghanistan and forced Americans to exit from there.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Thursday said nine flights took off on Thursday from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland.
"Nine flights have taken off on Thursday from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland, including IAF aircraft. 6 flights more are expected to depart shortly. Altogether, will bring back more than 3,000 Indian nationals," tweeted Jaishankar.
A total of 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the advisories were issued and flights under Operation Ganga have been increased to facilitate the evacuation of remaining students stranded in Ukraine.
The students who left Ukraine also included some Indians who had not registered with the Embassy of India in Kyiv previously.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on the issue. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other officials. Also Read | Why Russia doesn’t want Ukraine want to join NATO | All you need to know -PTC News
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting on the issue. The meeting was attended by Union Ministers S Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other officials.
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