Air India’s second flight carrying 250 Indian evacuees from Ukraine lands in Delhi

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Air India’s second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who have been stranded in Ukraine landed on the Delhi airport within the early hours of Sunday, authorities officers stated. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees on the airport by handing out roses to them.

India on Saturday started the evacuation of its stranded residents amid the Russian navy offensive in Ukraine, with the primary evacuation flight, AI1944, bringing again 219 individuals from Bucharest to Mumbai within the night.

The second evacuation flight, AI1942, carrying 250 Indian residents landed on the Delhi airport round 2.45 am on Sunday, the officers stated.

Air India’s third evacuation flight, AI1940, which is able to depart from Hungarian capital Budapest, can also be scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday, they stated. The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil plane operations since February 24 morning when the Russian navy offensive started.

Therefore, the Indian evacuation flights are working out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border have been taken to Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, by street with the help of Indian authorities officers in order that they may very well be evacuated in these Air India flights, the officers stated.

The authorities will not be charging the rescued residents for the evacuation flights, they stated. Air India shared on Twitter images of Scindia receiving the evacuees on the airport.

“Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine,” the airline stated.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had stated on February 24 that round 16,000 Indians, primarily college students, have been stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine stated on Twitter on Saturday that Indian residents in Ukraine shouldn’t transfer to any of the border posts with out prior coordination with the Indian authorities officers there utilizing the helpline numbers.

“The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens,” it talked about.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine stated it’s discovering it more and more tough to assist the crossing of these Indian nationals who’re reaching border checkpoints with out prior intimation.

It stated that staying in western cities of Ukraine with entry to water, meals, lodging and fundamental facilities is comparatively safer and advisable in comparison with reaching border checkpoints with out being totally abreast of the scenario.

“All those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient,” it stated.