Government officials said the second evacuation flight of Air India carrying 250 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine from Romanian capital Bucharest landed at Delhi airport in the early hours of February 27.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed those evacuated at the airport by giving them roses.
India began evacuating its stranded civilians on February 27 amid Russian military offensive in Ukraine, with the first evacuation flight, AI1944, bringing 219 people back to Mumbai from Bucharest in the evening.
Officials said the second evacuation flight, AI1942, carrying 250 Indian nationals landed at the Delhi airport at 2.45 am on February 27.
He said Air India’s third evacuation flight, AI1940, which will depart from Hungary’s capital Budapest, is scheduled to return to Delhi with evacuation on Sunday as well.
Ukraine’s airspace has been closed to civilian aircraft operations since the morning of 24 February when the Russian military offensive began. Hence, Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.
Officials said Indian nationals arriving at Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken by road to Bucharest and Budapest respectively with the assistance of Indian government officials, to be evacuated on these Air India flights.
He said the government was not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights.
Air India shared pictures of Mr Scindia’s evacuation at the airport on Twitter.
“Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receives Indian nationals who were brought back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on the morning of February 27, operated to evacuate Indians stranded in war-ravaged Ukraine,” the airline said. he said.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on February 24 that around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine.
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Saturday said on Twitter that Indian nationals in Ukraine should not visit any border post in Ukraine without prior coordination with Indian government officials there using the helpline numbers.
“The situation at various border posts is sensitive and the embassy is working closely with our embassies in our neighboring countries to evacuate our nationals,” it added.
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said that it is becoming increasingly difficult to help Indian nationals crossing the border posts without prior notice.
It added that living in Ukraine’s western cities with access to water, food, housing and basic amenities is relatively safe and reasonable compared to reaching border posts without being fully aware of the situation.
“All persons presently residing in the Eastern Region are requested to remain at their present place of residence until further instructions, remain calm, and as much as possible stay indoors or in shelters, with whatever food, water and facilities are available. Be and be patient,” it said.
,