New Delhi/Bengaluru. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, an Indian student was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city of this war-torn country of Eastern Europe on Tuesday morning. At the same time, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla claimed on Tuesday that all Indian citizens have left Kyiv. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine today suggested all Indians, including students, to leave Kyiv immediately by train or any other available means. This is the first case of death of an Indian person in the war in Ukraine after the Russian attack. The Indian killed in the shelling was a medical student in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and the ongoing campaign for the safe evacuation of Indians, especially students, from there. This is their fourth meeting on Ukraine issue in the last 48 hours. In the wake of Russia’s aggressive military action against Ukraine, the Prime Minister has asked the Air Force to mobilize on the front to rescue Indians stranded in the Eastern European country.
After the high-level meeting of the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters that in the high-level meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the death of an Indian national in Kharkiv. He said the body of the Indian student killed in Kharkiv has been taken to the mortuary of a medical university in the city. “We are deeply concerned about the situation in Kharkiv, Sumy and other conflict zones in Ukraine,” the foreign secretary said.
Over the next 3 days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring out Indian citizens apart from Bucharest and Budapest. Airports in Poland and Slovak Republic will also be used: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla#OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/ctb25bLxKB
— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2022
He informed that in the next three days, 26 flights have been scheduled to bring back Indian nationals. He said that according to our information, all our citizens have left Kyiv. He said that the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine have been apprised of India’s demand that Indians stranded in Kharkiv and other conflict-prone areas be provided with “immediate safe passage”.
Shringla said that in addition to Bucharest and Budapest, airports in Poland and the Slovak Republic will also be used to operate evacuation flights. He said that an Air Force C-17 aircraft could take off for Romania at 4 am on Wednesday to bring back the Indians. The Foreign Secretary said that Prime Minister Modi had received a call from French President Emmanuel Macron.
He also told that Prime Minister Modi has spoken to the President of Poland. Earlier, sources said that the Indian Air Force may deploy several C-17 aircraft as part of this operation called “Operation Ganga” being run to rescue Indians stranded in Ukraine. The capacity of this aircraft is about 300 passengers. So far, Indians are being brought back from Romania and Hungary only by private operators. India is evacuating its citizens from the war-torn country through its border posts with Romania, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia due to the closure of the war-torn country’s airspace after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted, “It is with extreme sadness that we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning.” The ministry said it is in touch with the student’s family. It said, “We express our deepest condolences to the family.”
In this regard, an official said that the student was a resident of Chalgeri in Haveri district of Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the father of Indian student Naveen Shekharappa Gyangoudar, who was killed in a gunfight in the war-torn Ukraine’s Kharkiv city on Tuesday morning. At the same time, according to one of Naveen’s uncles, he was in the bunker and had gone to get essentials and some eatables in the morning and got caught in the shelling and died.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine tweeted, “Advisory for Indians in Kyiv…All Indians including students are advised to leave Kyiv immediately today.” Available train or by any other available means.” At the same time, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Foreign Secretary is talking to the ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine in which he will reiterate India’s demand for ‘immediate safe passage’ for Indian nationals who are still stuck in conflict zones in Kharkiv and other cities. . “Similar actions are also being taken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine,” it said. A fierce battle is taking place between the Ukrainian troops and the Russian army in the city of Kharkiv.
Official sources said the deteriorating situation in Kharkiv is a matter of grave concern and the safety of Indian citizens in that city is the top priority for the government. He said India has already taken up the issue of the need for safe passage for Indian nationals, including students, from Kharkiv and other conflict-hit cities with the Russian and Ukrainian embassies.
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In this regard, a source said, “Since the start of this conflict on February 24, this demand has been made repeatedly from Russia and Ukraine. This demand has been made in their ambassadors in New Delhi as well as in their capitals.” Sources said that preparations are being made by the Government of India to evacuate Indians for some time.
“An Indian team has been deployed in the Russian city of Belgorod near the Ukrainian border. However, the conflict situation in Kharkiv and surrounding cities is becoming a hindrance.” “Therefore, it is imperative that Russia and Ukraine respond immediately to our need for a safe passage,” he said.
Sources said that Indian authorities have been successful in evacuating civilians in places where the conflict does not pose a threat to movement. He said that India will continue to do everything possible to ensure the return of Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine. Union Minister Hardeep Puri is visiting Hungary and Jyotiraditya Scindia will oversee the evacuation process in Romania and Moldova as part of efforts for the safe evacuation of Indians from Ukraine. At the same time, Kiren Rijiju is traveling to Slovakia and General (Retd) VK Singh will oversee the evacuation process at the transit points adjoining Poland. (agency)