India on Monday dispatched four senior ministers to countries neighouring Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation operation, named Operation Ganga, to bring back close to 15,000 Indians - mostly medical students who do not get admission into medical colleges at home - who still remain stranded in the conflict zone. The decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis. 

During the meeting on Monday morning, it was decided to send Jyotiraditya Scindia to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to Slovakia, Hardeep Singh Puri to Hungary and V. K. Singh to Poland to manage the evacuation operation.

The move to dispatch senior ministers came after the pressure grew on the Indian government after multiple reports emerged indicating several difficulties, including ill-treatment by Ukrainian border authorities, as Indian students tried to cross over into Romania or Hungary after trekking long distances on foot in freezing temperatures. 

Significantly, this is the second high-level meeting in the last 24 hours held by Modi on the ongoing Ukraine crisis. In a similar meeting on Sunday evening, Prime Minister Modi conveyed the assurance that ensuring the safety and safe return of Indians from Ukraine remains a priority for the government. 

On Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs also set up a special Twitter handle, OpGanga Helpline (@opganga), to help students. Over 15000 - out of an estimated 20,000 - are still believed to be stranded in different parts of the country. Those in capital Kyiv and cities in the eastern parts of Ukraine, who are in the face of the Russian invasion,   are facing the most difficulties, without means to leave their respective cities under heavy Russian assault.   
 
Due to the conflict, the latter's airspace remains closed for commercial airlines. Several airports in the country have also been bombed by Russian forces. 

Air evacuations are being carried out from neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, and Hungary, with five flights carrying Indian nationals landing in India so far.  
 
(SAM)