Mumbai: A group of 219 Indians who were evacuated from war-hit Ukraine were made to feel special when they landed here on Saturday evening.
As the Air India flight from Bucharest touched down, Union minister Piyush Goyal went inside the aircraft to receive the students.
“Since the beginning of this crisis, our main objective was to bring back each and every Indian stranded in Ukraine. As many as 219 students have arrived here. This was the first batch, the second will reach Delhi soon. We’ll not stop until all of them are back home,” Goyal said.
He also shared videos and pictures of his interaction with the passengers.
“Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport. Govt. led by PM Narendra Modi ji is working relentlessly to ensure safety of every Indian,” Goyal wrote.
Three Cheers For India!
Interacted with the Indian evacuees from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport.
Urged them to convey to their friends back in Ukraine that the Govt. has their back. #OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/45jIuncIWT
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 26, 2022
Around 20,000 Indian citizens are stranded in Ukraine where Russia launched a massive military operation three days ago.
Welcome back to the motherland!
Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport.
Govt. led by PM @NarendraModi ji is working relentlessly to ensure safety of every Indian. pic.twitter.com/fjuzjtNl9r
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 26, 2022
The Indian government is sparing no effort to bring back all its citizens safely through alternative routes after the closure of Ukraine’s airspace.
The mission has been named ‘Operation Ganga’, revealed External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, who took to Twitter to welcome back evacuated citizens.
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