Gandhinagar: The recent surge of anti-reservation protests in Bangladesh has led to violence and loss of life in the neighboring country. Amid the turmoil, 14 Gujarati students caught in the conflict have been repatriated back to Gujarat. The Gujarat Government coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs so that students who were in Bangladesh for the MBBS studies returned to their families safe and unharmed.

Beyond the current crisis in Bangladesh, the Government of India has conducted numerous rescue operations to bring back citizens stranded due to various natural and man-made disasters across different parts of the world. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 4,92,701 Gujaratis have been safely evacuated from the distress situation worldwide.

Over 4.90 Lakh Gujaratis Repatriated to Homeland During COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, lakhs of Indians got stranded in various countries. In response, the Union Government, launched the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ under which special evacuation flights were operated to safely repatriate Indians stranded across the globe.

Under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission,’ key agencies including the Gujarat State Non-Resident Gujarati Pratisthan, Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited, Gujarat Airport Police, Gujarat State Transport Corporation, District Panchayat Ahmedabad, and various district administrations collaborated to execute this extensive operation. As a result, 4,90,701 Gujaratis were brought back to Gujarat during the COVID-19 period.

Additionally, on June 11, 2020, 233 Gujarati fish farmers were repatriated safely aboard the INS Shardul ship and quarantined on the Porbandar port. Besides, 42 Gujaratis were also safely brought back from Pakistan via the Wagah Border during the pandemic.

1,386 Non-Resident Gujaratis Repatriated from Ukraine Under ‘Operation Ganga’

Amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Union government had launched ‘Operation Ganga’ to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Under this mission, 1,386 non-resident Gujaratis who went to Ukraine for their studies were brought back to Gujarat.

‘Operation Kaveri’ Helped Gujaratis Stranded in Sudan, ‘Operation Ajay’ Safely Repatriated Gujaratis Trapped in Israel

Amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, many Indians got stranded in Sudan. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs, launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ to repatriate those trapped in Sudan, and to date, 569 non-resident Gujaratis have been brought back to Gujarat through this operation.

Similarly, the Israel-Palestine conflict has left many Indian citizens stranded in Israel. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs has initiated ‘Operation Ajay’ to facilitate their return. So far, 30 non-resident Gujaratis have been repatriated under this mission.