MEA: Nearly 17,000 Indians have left war-hit Ukraine so far

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) Nearly 17,000 Indians have left war-hit Ukraine so far since January this year, with more than 3,000 Indians being evacuated on board 15 flights, including six that arrived since Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, addressing a special briefing, said the 17,000 Indians who are estimated to have left Ukraine so far also include some Indians who have not registered with the Indian embassy in Kyiv. He said that flights under Operation Ganga “have increased sharply”. “In the last 24 hours, six flights have landed taking the total number of flights to 15, and the total number of Indians evacuated to 3,352.” He also said that 15 flights have been scheduled over the next 24 hours, with some of them already en route to India. The Indian Air Force has also joined Operation Ganga, with the first C17 Globemaster leaving from Bucharest with Indians on board, and is set to land in Delhi later tonight. Three more IAF flights will be undertaken today from Budapest, Bucharest and from Poland, he added.