AIR INDIA RETURNED TO INDIA, 20,000 INDIANS LEFT IN UKRAINE, INDIA EFFORTS TO RESCUE THEM

(The Quiver): On Thursday, after Ukraine closed off its civilian airspace citing potential threats, an Air India flight ,AI 1947 , which has left from New Delhi to evacuate Indians has returned back to the national capital . The flight had been suspended mid-air after the announcement of NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) from the country ,restricting its airspace amid ‘potential threats.

The Indian authorities attempting their best of efforts to facilitate Indian nationals return. In an advisory, India urged its nationals “to remain calm and remain safe ‘wherever they are’. “The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations or in transit,” it read.

“Over 20,000 Indian students in Ukraine, we are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals including students as we may be required,” India’s Permanent Rep to the United Nations (UN) TS Tirumurti told a UNSC meeting over Ukraine on Thursday. 

The embassy also advised that people who were travelling to Kyiv, including those from the western parts of the capital city, should return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along with the western bordering countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a control room to provide information and assistance to Indians in Ukraine in view of the prevailing situation there.

MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi took to Twitter and put out the helpline numbers launched for assistance amid the Russia-Ukraine tensions.