Under 'Operation Ganga', the first C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force returned to India carrying 200 students from Romania around 2 pm. The Air Force has also joined this campaign started from Wednesday to 'repatriate' Indian citizens trapped in neighboring countries after leaving war-torn Ukraine. In this operation that started with four aircraft, the Air Force has similarly sent three more C-17 Globemaster aircraft to Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, which will return today with 600 students.
Under 'Operation Ganga', the first C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force returned to India carrying 200 students from Romania around 2 pm on Wednesday/Thursday. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft landed at its home air base Hindon. Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt also reached Hindon airbase to welcome the Indians who had arrived from the C-17 Globemaster. After this, all the students were taken to their respective Rajya Bhavan in Delhi by buses. Rajasthan minister Mamta Bhupesh was also present at Hindon base to pick up many students of her state. He expressed happiness that our children have come out of such a terrible situation, so I am present as a parent under the direction of CM of Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot).
India has launched 'Operation Ganga' from 26 February to bring back Indians who had gone out of war-torn Ukraine to neighboring countries. India started evacuating its citizens through Ukraine's adjoining countries Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary as Ukraine's airspace has been closed since February 24 after the start of Russian military offensive. Air Force's first transport aircraft C-17 Globemaster left for Bucharest (Romania) from the domestic airbase Hindon at 4 am on Wednesday to bring home Indian citizens. After this, three more aircraft have been sent a day to Rezso (Poland), Slovakia and Budapest (Hungary). These planes will bring Indians who had flown out of war-torn Ukraine.
Indian Air Force officials said that by Thursday morning three more aircraft would return from Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. The Air Force has deployed four C-17 transport aircraft with relief material as part of the ongoing 'Operation Ganga'. 180 seats have been arranged in each plane i.e. 200 Indians can be brought back in one plane. The Indian Air Force is evacuating civilians using airfields in Romania, Poland and Hungary due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on the Indian Air Force to join the efforts to bring back Indians, as part of Operation Ganga, to step up efforts to bring back Indians safely.
Prime Minister Modi had said that leveraging the capabilities of our Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in less time. It will also help distribute humanitarian aid more efficiently. 'Operation Ganga' is an Indian government's campaign to evacuate Indian citizens from Ukraine and provide humanitarian aid. Under this, Indian students who have gone to study in Ukraine are being made to return home, who have gone to neighboring countries Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Slovakia after the war with Russia. The Indian Air Force has kept its fleet of C-17 aircraft on standby to evacuate civilians from Ukraine. Air Force officials say that the Indian Air Force is ready for any need to evacuate our citizens from Ukraine.