New Delhi: A special Air India flight was able to bring 250 Indians who could manage to get it to the airport and escape Ukraine. When they reached Delhi in the early hours they received a warm welcome by the Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia gave them roses.
The flight landed at around 2:45 am, at the India Gandhi International Airport, videos were shared of the leader giving the passengers a spirited message while interacting with the people.
He assured that "every Indian in Ukraine will be brought back safely". "Please pass this message to all your friends and all your colleagues that we are with them and we will guarantee their safe passage back (home). Prime Minister Modi is in touch with the Ukrainian President.. the conversations are on to ensure that everyone is brought home safely," he says in a video.
"Conversations are also on with the Russian government. I assure you... ek ek nagrik ko wapas lakar hi hum chain ki saans lenge (We will take a sigh of relief only after bringing back every citizen). We welcome you. I also thank the Air India crew," he says as the passengers break into applause.
Ukraine has been in conflict with Russia for a few days now, meanwhile, people are starting to flee to various countries and foreigners are trying to return to their home countries. Most Ukrainians are making their way to Budapest & Bucharest, as Ukraine's airspace has been closed. The first evacuation from Romania carried 219 nationals from Ukraine. It arrived at the Mumbai airport on Saturday evening.
Indian nationals are being assisted by government officials to reach the Ukraine-Hungary border, to reach Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, via road. From there, they are being brought back on Air India flights.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed his deep concern for the Indian national in Ukraine. PM Modi sought the safety of Indian nationals in Ukraine and requested to quickly evacuate them.