New Delhi. Air India’s second evacuation flight carrying 250 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine arrived at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday from Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Government officials gave this information. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the Indians brought from Ukraine by giving them roses at the airport. India on Saturday launched an operation to rescue its civilians trapped in Ukraine amid an offensive by Russian forces. The first evacuation flight AI 1944 brought 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai.
Officials said the second evacuation flight AI1942 arrived at the Delhi airport at around 2.45 am on Sunday carrying 250 Indian nationals. Air India’s third evacuation flight AI1940 has taken off from the Hungarian capital Budapest and is expected to return to Delhi on Sunday with 240 people, he said. Scindia said to the people who returned home, “I know that you all have gone through very, very difficult times, very difficult times. But know that the Prime Minister is with you at every step, the Government of India is with you at every step and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and talks are on for the safe return of all. He told that talks are going on with the Russian government as well and the Indian government will take a sigh of relief only when every Indian from Ukraine comes back. “Therefore please pass on this message to all your friends and colleagues that we are with them and we will guarantee their safe return,” the minister said. Scindia said, “I welcome you on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I would also like to congratulate the Air India team for putting so much effort into bringing you all back.”
Since the Ukrainian authorities closed their country’s airspace for the operation of passenger planes on the morning of February 24, these flights are being operated from Bucharest and Budapest to bring Indians home. Officials said that Indian nationals who had reached Ukraine-Romania and Ukraine-Hungary border by road were taken by road to Bucharest and Budapest respectively with the help of Indian government officials so that they could be taken by Air India flight. to be brought home. He told that the government is not charging any fee to bring the stranded citizens to Ukraine. Scindia told reporters at the airport that around 13,000 Indians are still stranded in Ukraine.
“Many students are staying in bunkers due to attacks against Ukraine. The situation is difficult. Thanks to govt that they evacuated us on time,” students returned from Ukraine said pic.twitter.com/bZKxAMHqQy
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2022
“You know there is a very sensitive situation there (Ukraine). In this situation we are talking to every Indian citizen including students through telecommunication. We will bring them back as soon as possible.” Air India has shared pictures of Scindia welcoming the returned Indians at the airport on Twitter. “Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is welcoming Indian nationals brought back to Delhi from Bucharest on AI1942 in the early hours of February 27, which was operated to bring back Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine,” the airline said.
#WATCH, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia interacting with Indian nationals who arrived at Delhi airport from Ukraine via Bucharest
“PM Modi is in touch with Ukrainian President, conservations are on to ensure that everyone is brought home safely,” says Scindia pic.twitter.com/pfhH3kh4Z6
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022
#WATCH , Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia & MoS MEA V Muraleedharan welcome the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine via Bucharest (Romania) pic.twitter.com/UsFC7f63xf
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on February 24 that around 16,000 Indians are stranded in Ukraine, most of them students. The Indian Embassy in Ukraine had tweeted on Saturday that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine should not move towards any border post without coordinating with the Indian government officials using the helpline numbers. “The situation at various border check posts is sensitive and the embassy is working continuously with our embassies in neighboring countries to evacuate our citizens in a coordinated manner,” it had said.
The embassy said that it is becoming difficult to evacuate those Indians who have reached the border check posts without informing them. It said people living in cities in western Ukraine live in a relatively “safe” environment and have access to basic amenities. “Please note that living in Ukraine’s western cities with access to water, food, housing and basic amenities is much safer than arriving at border check posts without being fully aware of the situation,” it said. The embassy said, “All the people currently living in the eastern sector are requested to remain calm and patient at their place of residence till further orders and stay inside their homes or shelters with whatever food, water and facilities are available.” is done.”