An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17, a heavy-lift transport aircraft carrying 220 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine reached the Hindon airbase on Thursday.(Operation Ganga)
The IAF C-17 flight had departed from Hungary’s capital Budapest on Wednesday. Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt received the Indian citizens on their arrival.
Bhatt also interacted with the passengers.
“The aircraft which brought students earlier has been sent for evacuation as soon as students get off of this aircraft. It will again take off for evacuation. It is our duty to bring every single student. I congratulate every crew for working day and night,” said MOs Defense Ajay Bhatt.
“Highly obliged to our @IAF_MCC crew and pilots for their round-the-clock service and support to Government’s efforts in bringing our citizens safely back to home. #OperationGanga,” he tweeted.
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 Globe masters and IL-76 transport aircraft are the most capable of flying to long distances with around 400 passengers. The C-17 transport aircraft had helped in a big way to evacuate citizens and officials from Kabul when the Taliban captured Afghanistan and forced Americans to exit from there.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said nine flights took off on Thursday from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
“Nine flights have taken off today from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland. Includes IAF aircraft. 6 flights more are expect to depart shortly. Altogether, will bring back more than 3000 Indian nationals,” tweeted Jaishankar.
The students who left Ukraine also included some Indians who had not registered. With the Embassy of India in Kyiv previously.