Students evacuated from riot-torn Ukraine expressed relief and gratitude for returning to India, even as they sought help for those who remained.

The government has made every effort to bring its citizens back from Ukraine following the invasion by Russian troops. The mission is called “Operation Ganges”.

Students who returned from Ukraine via Romania said they managed to make an Indian flag out of spray paint and curtains to put on their vehicles when they left Ukraine. The students said the Indian flag helped them get out of the country safely.

“As soon as we got in the car, we hung two Indian flags in front of the car. It worked! We got a free license,” a student told ANI news agency. “When they saw the Indian flag, they knew we were Indian students who came here to study and then nobody stopped us.”

Another student who returned to India on the same flight said he managed to make the Indian tricolor out of whatever was in a nearby store. “I ran to the nearest store and bought 6 spray paints (cans). Then I went to another store and bought a curtain. Then I put the Indian flag on the curtain.”

“We waved the flag on the bus, sang the national anthem, and drove to India,” he said.

“The government is helping us. We are happy! But the frequency of flights should be increased. The Romanian people are facing difficulties and the Indian embassy should help us. It would be great,” another student said after arriving in Bucharest, Romania.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Indian Air Force to join the Ganges evacuation.

The U.S. State Department on Sunday set up a 24-hour control center to support the evacuation of Indian nationals from war-torn Ukraine through border crossings with Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Slovak Republic. This is the hotline number.

A dedicated Twitter handle “OpGanga Helpline” has also been activated.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times