Ukraine Crisis | 17,000 Indians Have Left Ukraine Borders, 3352 Have Reached India So Far: MEA

While addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the government estimates that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine borders since our advisories were issued. 

Family members holding the national flag receive Indian nationals, who were evacuated from war-torn Ukraine. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: As the war between Russia and Ukraine entered into the seventh day on Wednesday after Vladimir Putin called for an all-out military operation last week, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs informed that there has been a sharp increase in the number of Indians who have left the war-torn nation.

While addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the government estimates that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine borders since our advisories were issued. 

"There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indians who have left Ukraine. We now estimate that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine borders since our advisories were issued," Bagchi said.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indians who have left Ukraine. We now estimate that nearly 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine borders since our advisories were issued: Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson#RussianUkrainianCrisis pic.twitter.com/fR7M2ulN92

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2022

Under Operation Ganga, India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut down since February 24.

Sharing more information about the same, MEA spokesperson said that 6 more flights landed in India in last 24 hours, taking the total number of flights that have landed in India to 15 and the total number of Indians who have returned on these flights to 3,352.

During the last 24 hours, 6 flights have landed in India, taking the total number of flights that have landed in India to 15 and the total number of Indians who have returned on these flights to 3,352: Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson#OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/vEmaC6ANf6

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2022

"As many as 15 flights are scheduled over the next 24 hours. Some of these are already actually enroute," Bagchi said.

"Indian Air Force aircraft have joined Operation Ganga with the first C-17 flight from Bucharest (Romania) expected to return to Delhi later tonight. 3 more IAF flights will be undertaken today from Budapest (Hungary), Bucharest (Romania) and Rzeszow (Poland)," he said.

Bagchi also said that cities in eastern Ukraine remain an area of concern, adding that encouraging reports have come that some students were able to board trains out of Kharkiv last night and today morning.

Cities in eastern Ukraine remain an area of concern. Encouraging reports that some students were able to board trains out of Kharkiv last night, today morning...We've been in communication with Russian side regarding safe passage of our nationals from Kharkiv & other cities: MEA pic.twitter.com/Y4tYTVjLCq

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2022

"We have been in communication with the Russian side regarding safe passage of our nationals from Kharkiv and other cities, he added.

The MEA official also informed that second Indian student who lost his life in Ukraine today has been identified as Chandan Jindal. He lost his life due to natural causes and his family is also in Ukraine.

He also said that the advisory that has just been issued by our Embassy is on the basis of information received from Russia.

"We would urge all our nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately to safe zones or further westwards using any means available, including on foot and keeping safety in mind," he said.

The advisory that has just been issued by our Embassy is on the basis of information received from Russia. We would urge all our nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately to safe zones or further westwards using any means available, including on foot, & keeping safety in mind: MEA pic.twitter.com/3CuDIf1o5A

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2022

As per information shared by the government on Tuesday, approximately 8,000 Indians, mainly students, are stranded in Ukraine. Four Union ministers have gone to Ukraine's western neighbours to facilitate the evacuation of stranded Indians.

Hardeep Singh Puri is in Hungary, Jyotiraditya Scindia is in Romania, Kiren Rijiju is in Slovakia and V K Singh is in Poland.