OPERATION GANGA

Content:

The Ministry of external affairs established 24/7 control centres on February 27, 2022, to aid in evacuating Indian nationals from Ukraine. India has begun 'Operation Ganga,' a multi-pronged evacuation strategy.

Key Point:

Indian nationals will be evacuated via Poland, Hungary, Romania, and the Slovak Republic's border crossing locations. 'OpGanga,' a dedicated Twitter handle for Ministry, has been activated.

Evacuate Indians

• As Russia's onslaught against Ukraine increased, India evacuated stranded nationals on February 26 under Operation Ganga.
• After Ukrainian airspace was closed to civil aircraft operations on February 24, an evacuation effort began.
• The Indian government has been able to fly three special Air India aircraft to bring stranded residents home.
• Amid the current disaster, the Indian government is footing the bill for evacuation.
• Around 15,000 stranded Indians will be relocated from Ukraine to Operation Ganga.

Route of Evacuation

Due to the escalating tensions, Ukraine has closed its airspace. As a result, Indian evacuation flights will be operated from Hungary and Romania.

Three significant routes followed are:

• From Ukrain - Land routes to Romania, Hungary and Poland.

• From Romania - Flights - Bucharest to Delhi/Mumbai

• From Hungary - Flights - Budapest to Delhi/Mumbai

• The government also assists trapped Indians in crossing Hungary's, Romania's, Slovakia's, and Poland's borders.
• Three Air India planes have returned nearly 700 Indians from Ukraine to India so far, two from Budapest to Delhi and one from Bucharest to Mumbai.