NEW DELHI: India's first flight from Israel reached Delhi as part of Operation Ajay. There are 212 people including nine Malayalees in the first group. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared their pictures from the airport on X.
Union Minister Rajiv Chandrasekhar received them at the airport. Kerala House officials also reached the airport. The flight took off from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport at 11.30 Indian time last night. All had a free trip. Others registered to return to India as part of the Operation Ajayi mission will be brought on subsequent flights.
#OperationAjay gets underway.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 12, 2023
212 citizens onboard the flight are enroute New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/fGSAYiXbBA
Operation Ajay will continue for at least a week. Meantime, a 24-hour control room has been opened at Kerala House in Delhi to help Malayalees coming from Israel. A help desk will be set up at the Delhi airport. Control Room No: 011 23747079.
Israel Consulate General Kobi Shoshani said that there are 18,000 Indians in Israel, including 1,000 students. Indian Embassy Helpline Number: +972-35226748, +972-543278392. Email cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.