The flight will land in Mumbai at round 6:30 pm.
New Delhi:
Amid a lot chaos and confusion on the evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine, the primary Air India flight carrying 219 residents took off from Romania. The flight will land in Mumbai at round 6:30 pm. That is the primary flight from the previous Soviet republic to India after the Russia-Ukraine disaster escalated right into a full-blown invasion. It was earlier scheduled to land in Mumbai at 4 pm.
NDTV has accessed unique footage and movies from contained in the plane. In one of many video clips, Rahul Shrivastava, India ambassador to Romania, may be heard reassuring college students that their mission won’t be full if even one Indian citizen is left behind. Over the flight’s public deal with system, he urges those that are in contact with different Indians who’re nonetheless in Ukraine to name and reassure them that the federal government of India is making all doable efforts to get them again. “Whenever in life when things get difficult, remember this day. 26th February. Remember, everything will be fine,” he says.
Exterior Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar mentioned he’s personally monitoring the evacuation efforts and the authorities is making progress.
“Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring,” he mentioned in a Tweet.
Relating to evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we’re making progress.
Our groups are engaged on the bottom around the clock. I’m personally monitoring.
The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania. pic.twitter.com/8BSwefW0Q1
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022
One other Air India flight carrying stranded Indians is scheduled to land in Delhi as we speak.
For the reason that Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil plane operations for the reason that morning of February 24, the evacuation flights will function out of neighbouring international locations.
Whereas the scholars who have been evacuated and delivered to the Romanian capital Bucharest praised Indian officers for consistently being in contact and “taking care of everything”, many different college students nonetheless stranded in bunkers have claimed that no assist has been forthcoming.
“No special flights have been accommodated for us. We have been staying at this bunker…it’s really hard for us. We request you to send help as soon as possible,” a scholar from Bangalore mentioned in a video attraction shared by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
The Indian embassy in Ukraine as we speak suggested its residents to not transfer to any of the border posts with out coordination with its officers. 1000’s of Indians have been stranded within the nation and are desperately in search of a method out.
“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,” the Indian embassy in Ukraine tweeted this morning.
The embassy mentioned that it is discovering it “increasingly difficult” to assist Indian nationals who attain border checkpoints with out prior intimation.
“Staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation,” the embassy mentioned.
The Ministry of International Affairs (MEA) has arrange a devoted 24*7 management room to supply help and knowledge to Indians in Ukraine.