Operation Ganga was a strategic evacuation mission launched by Government of India in February 2022. Its primary objective was to rescue Indian nationals—predominantly medical students—who were stuck in Ukraine following Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
Overview of Mission
When the conflict began, Ukrainian airspace was immediately closed to civilian aircraft, leaving approximately 20,000 Indian citizens trapped in a war zone. India had to pivot from direct flights to a land-and-air rescue model.
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Launch Date: February 26, 2022.
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Total Evacuees: Approximately 22,500 Indian nationals and 147 foreign citizens from 18 different countries.
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Execution: A collaborative effort between Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian Air Force (IAF), and private carriers like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet.
How Evacuation Worked
Since planes could not land in Ukraine, Indian government established corridors through neighboring countries. Indian students were advised to travel to western borders of Ukraine to cross into safer territories.
Key Transit Points
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Romania: Flights operated primarily from Bucharest.
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Hungary: Evacuations through Budapest.
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Poland: High-volume crossing at Rzeszów.
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Slovakia & Moldova: Additional land routes and transit support.
To ensure smooth coordination with local governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dispatched four Union Ministers as Special Envoys to Ukraine’s neighbors:
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Hardeep Singh Puri (Hungary)
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Jyotiraditya Scindia (Romania and Moldova)
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Kiren Rijiju (Slovakia)
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General (Retd) V.K. Singh (Poland)
Success and Challenges
Operation faced immense hurdles, including freezing temperatures, overcrowded trains, and heavy shelling in eastern cities like Kharkiv and Sumy.
| Aspect | Details |
| Logistics | Over 90 special flights were operated over course of mission. |
| Technology | A dedicated Twitter handle (@opganga) and 24/7 helplines provided real-time updates. |
| Diplomacy | India negotiated local ceasefires to allow safe passage for students trapped in Sumy. |
| Philosophy | Mission embodied principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family) by rescuing foreign nationals alongside Indians. |
Comparison with Previous Missions
Operation Ganga add to the India’s long history of successful repatriations:
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1990 Kuwait Airlift: The largest civilian evacuation in history (170,000+ people).
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Operation Raahat (2015): Rescuing citizens from war-torn Yemen.
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Vande Bharat Mission (2020): Repatriating millions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operation Ganga concluded officially on March 11, 2022, with safe return of last major group of students from Sumy. It remains a test to India’s citizens-first foreign policy.