Indian student Harjot Singh helped by a Ukrainian driver arrives in India arrives at Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad.
On February 27, 31-year-old Harjot, along with his two friends had boarded a cab for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv when fleeing from Kyiv and unfortunately, was shot four times, including in his chest. A Ukrainian driver heroically helped him, driving him over 700 kilometres away under challenging circumstances so that he could board an evacuation flight, C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force, to return home.
The Indian Embassy now praised the Ukraine driver for his great endeavour. Mr Singh (31) landed at the Hindon Air Force station near Delhi on Monday evening onboard a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force that also brought back several other Indians from Poland.
Upon Harjot Singh’s arrival at the Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Monday, March 7, 2022, he is assisted off the aircraft after being evacuated from war-torn Ukraine upon his arrival at the Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Monday, March 7, 2022.
An Indian Air Force flight carrying Indian student Harjot Singh, who was shot in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv a few days ago, landed at the Hindon airbase here Monday evening, officials said.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh stated that 205 Indian students returned to India on the flight that had left from Rzeszów in Poland at 10.30 a.m and landed here at 6.15 p.m. Mr Singh was in Poland to facilitate the evacuation of students.
He said, ”I am happy to inform you that we have landed at Hindon Airforce Station. All 205 Indian students are back safe and sound. Harjot is under transfer to the Army Hospital (R&R). I thank the crew for taking care of us.”
Talking to reporters at the airport here, the minister said, “The Indian embassy in Ukraine evacuated Harjot and his condition is stable.” He added that Harjot will be sent to the Army Hospital (Research And Referral) as no one is better than Army in treating bullet wounds.
The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive. Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been operating its evacuation flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries using its C-17 military transport planes.
Harjot’s family in Delhi had told PTI on Sunday that they were “very, very happy” that he was returning and were eagerly awaiting his arrival.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday announced that the government would bear the medical expenses of Harjot.
On March 1, 2022, a medical student Naveen SG from Karnataka was killed in shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when he ventured out to buy food for himself and his peers.
A total of 1,314 Indians were airlifted by seven civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries on Monday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said.
“Tomorrow, two special civilian flights are expected to operate from Suceva, Romania to bring more than 400 Indians back home,” the ministry’s statement added.
Close to 16,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far, yet it is a long haul for 700 Indians stuck in Sumy.
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine Praises the Ukrainian Driver
The Indian Embassy in Ukraine put out a series of tweets giving a sense of the challenging situation in which Singh was taken out of Kyiv.
“Bringing Harjot Home. Indian student Harjot Singh who sustained bullet injuries at Kyiv was successfully transferred over more than 700km in the face of war zone constraints of bombing /shelling. Evacuated through Poland by IAF C17 Ac,” it tweeted.
In another post, the embassy hailed the driver who transported Singh from Kyiv to the Bodomierz border point.
Indian student Harjot Singh who sustained bullet injuries at #Kyiv was successfully transferred over more than 700km in the face of war zone constraints of bombing / shelling. Evacuated through Poland by IAF C17 Ac: Indian Embassy in Ukraine.#RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/zSFjSe8AZb
— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 7, 2022