On Day 7 of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian government provided an update regarding the progress of Operation Ganga, the evacuation programme.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said that nearly 17,000 Indians have left Ukraine since the government issued its first advisory. Bagchi said that in 24 hours, 6 evacuation flights had landed, taking the total to 15. Over 3,300 Indians have been brought back via the flights, with the Indian Air Force also having initiated its operations.
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Explaining the latest advisory for Indians to leave Kharkiv city, Bagchi said that it was based on inputs from the Russian side. The advisory said, "For their own safety and security, all Indian nationals must leave Kharkiv immediately. Repeat, immediately. They should proceed to Pesochny, Babai, and Bezlyudivka as soon as possible. Those students who cannot find vehicles or buses and are in the railway station, can proceed on foot to Pesochny (11km), Babai (12km), and Bezlyudivka (16km). Under all circumstances, Indians must reach these settlements by 6 pm."
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is seeing fierce fighting as Russian forces try to take over. On March 1, an Indian student named Naveen SG died in shelling in Kharkiv while waiting in a queue to get food.