|
New
Delhi,
Feb
28:
Air
India’s
two
evacuation
flights
came
from
Romanian
capital
Bucharest
and
Hungarian
capital
Budapest
to
Delhi
on
Monday
with
489
Indian
nationals
who
were
stranded
in
Ukraine
after
the
Russian
military
offensive,
officials
said.
Other
private
carriers
such
as
SpiceJet,
IndiGo
and
Air
India
Express
have
also
sent
their
planes
to
the
two
cities
for
evacuation
of
Indians
as
the
Ukraine
airspace
is
closed.
India
began
the
evacuation
of
its
citizens
from
Romania
and
Hungary
–
western
neighbours
of
Ukraine
–
on
Saturday
and
the
Tata
Group-owned
Air
India
has
brought
back
1,396
Indian
nationals
in
six
evacuation
flights
till
now.
On
Monday,
the
fifth
Air
India
flight
landed
in
Delhi
from
Bucharest
with
249
Indian
nationals,
while
the
sixth
flight
arrived
from
Budapest
here
with
240
Indian
nationals,
officials
said.
Around
14,000
Indians,
mainly
college
students,
are
currently
stranded
in
Ukraine.
SpiceJet
said
it
will
use
its
Boeing
737
MAX
aircraft
for
this
special
flight
that
will
depart
from
Delhi
Monday
evening.
“The
aircraft
will
fly
to
Budapest
from
Delhi
and
the
return
flight
will
operate
via
Kutaisi,
Georgia,”
it
mentioned.
SpiceJet
said
it
is
planning
to
operate
more
evacuation
flights
and
is
in
discussion
with
the
authorities
concerned.
Tata
Group-owned
Air
India
Express
said
it
will
operate
a
Bucharest-Mumbai
flight
Monday
night
with
182
stranded
passengers.
“The
flight
will
have
a
stopover
in
Kuwait
for
refuelling.
It
will
land
in
Mumbai
at
9:30
AM
tomorrow
(Tuesday),”
it
added.
IndiGo
said
it
is
operating
two
evacuation
flights
using
A321
aircraft
to
bring
back
the
Indian
citizens
safely
following
the
crisis
in
Ukraine.
Both
the
flights
will
land
in
Delhi
on
Tuesday,
it
noted.
“These
flights
are
being
operated
from
Delhi
to
Bucharest,
Romania
and
to
Budapest,
Hungary
via
Istanbul,
today,
as
part
of
the
Indian
government’s
Operation
Ganga
mission,”
it
mentioned.
India’s
largest
airline
said
it
is
closely
liaising
with
the
government
to
offer
its
support
for
more
such
evacuations
flights.
Later
during
the
day,
IndiGo
said
it
will
send
four
more
planes
on
Tuesday
to
evacuate
stranded
Indian
citizens.
“Two
flights
each
will
be
operated
from
Delhi
to
Budapest,
Hungary
and
to
Rzeszow,
Poland
via
Istanbul,
respectively.
These
aircraft
will
depart
Delhi
on
March
1,”
it
noted.
The
Indian
Embassy
in
Ukraine
stated
on
Monday
that
the
weekend
curfew
has
been
lifted
in
Kyiv
and
all
students
are
advised
to
make
their
way
to
the
railway
station
for
onward
journey
to
the
western
parts
of
the
country.
“Ukraine
Railways
putting
special
trains
for
evacuations.
We
sincerely
request
all
Indian
nationals/students
to
remain
calm,
peaceful
and
united,”
it
mentioned.
A
large
crowd
can
be
expected
at
the
railway
stations,
therefore,
it
is
advised
that
all
Indian
students
remain
patient,
composed
and
not
exhibit
aggressive
behaviour
while
at
the
railway
stations,
it
noted.
“We
expect
delays
in
trains’ schedule,
even
cancellation
at
times
and
long
queues,”
it
mentioned.
Indian
students
are
requested
to
carry
their
passport,
sufficient
cash,
ready-to-eat
meals,
easy
accessible
winter
clothing
and
only
essential
items,
to
ensure
easy
mobility,
it
stated.
Be
mindful
of
your
belongings
at
all
times,
it
advised.
“Ukrainians
–
both
civilians
and
authorities
–
have
been
remarkably
supportive
in
facilitating
evacuation
efforts
of
Indian
citizens,
especially
considering
these
critical
and
dangerous
times.
You
are
all
requested
to
respect
this
sentiment,”
it
noted.
PTI
Story first published: Monday, February 28, 2022, 23:55 [IST]