The Centre announced on Friday that it is working to evacuate Indian people from the war-torn cities of Kharkiv and Sumy in Ukraine’s east. “We are focusing our efforts in eastern Ukraine, particularly in Kharkiv and Pisochin. “We were able to get some buses there, and five of them are now operating,” said Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs.
“More buses will be available later this evening,” says the statement. “Around 900-1,000 Indian people are stranded in Pisochin, with 700 of them stuck in Sumy,” according to the spokesperson.
“We sought special trains from the Ukrainian authorities, but we have yet to hear back,” Bagchi said.
The Indian Air Force has already dispatched IL-76 planes to Kharkiv and Sumy to transport Indian people stuck in Moscow. Two IL-76 aircraft are on standby, according to South Block officials, to fly out to Moscow as soon as the Indian people arrive.
Meanwhile the Indian embassy in Bucharest and Romania has issued 24 hours helpline numbers for those Indian students who are still stuck in those countries.
