India has achieved great diplomatic success by evacuating 694 Indians, including 400 stranded Malayalees, from the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Tuesday. The students were living in fear in Sumy, which was facing a series of horrific attacks by the Russian forces. The students, who set out several times in search of a safe haven, had to retreat due to Russian aggression. Finally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a direct request to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine to make the safe passage for the children. It was a great relief for India when the students, who had been staying on the university campus in the bitter cold, travelled by bus to the western Ukrainian city of Poltava on Tuesday. With the evacuation of the Indians from Sumy becoming a success, India's 'Operation Ganga' is nearing the final leg of its mission. It is a major achievement that India was able to repatriate more than 20,000 people stranded in various parts of Ukraine despite extremely unfavourable situations. The prudent stand taken by India in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been very helpful in the evacuation mission.

In the meantime, several social media users were seen exaggerating the occasional temporary setbacks encountered during the evacuation and insulting and criticizing the Embassy and the Government of India. What more can these people say when 'Operation Ganga' gets completed in the most comforting way? It was the Indian stance that facilitated the evacuation of students hailing from various foreign countries, including Pakistan.

The panic of the civilians who are caught up in the middle of the raging war is indescribable. Among those who went with high hopes to study there were thousands of foreign students, including Indians. Although there were some unfortunate incidents, Indian embassy officials in Ukraine, Romania and Poland played a vital role in safely evacuating Indian students. They had to work in extremely difficult conditions.

The most difficult rescue mission in 'Operation Ganga' was in the city of Sumy. The students had to live without food and water for the last two days due to unforeseen interruptions in the rescue mission. Many students had to give up their journey as attacks continued even after the announcement of a ceasefire. It was the timely intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that finally helped the children.

Except for the death of Naveen, a third-year MBBS student from Karnataka, and the accidental death of a sick Punjabi student, all Indian students have been repatriated safely. All officers, flight attendants and personnel involved in the Ganga mission deserves the whole gratitude of the nation.