Operation Ganga (Hindi)

As war clouds began to loom over Ukraine, thousands of Indian students living there and their parents were distraught. Some students left Ukraine in time, but many stayed back in the hope that Russia would not attack, or if it did, the war would not affect their studies. But this hope was belied when all foreign students were advised to leave. The Government of India, which had been keeping an eye on the deteriorating situation, lost no time in launching Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian citizens, mostly students, from the war-torn region. In its bid to help its citizens, the Government of India sought the support and help of all European nations, the Indian diaspora, Indian embassies, the corporate world and charitable and religious organisations. Operation Ganga chronicles the efforts of the various institutions that came together to evacuate planeloads of Indians students from Ukraine and neighbouring countries, including Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. There are stories too of the incredible hardships the students faced and the Good Samaritans who helped them.