(Special correspondent & news editor from Europe)
Budapest (Hungary), 05 March, 2022: Indian students studying in Ukraine, and escorted from the Ukraine-Hungarian border to Budapest are awaiting their flights organized under Operation Ganga at the Indian Embassy in Budapest and various other locations around the city.
There are 4-5 flights departing daily, and a total of around 2000 students who arrived to Hungary for their transfer to India. They have come via the main border crossing at the town of Zahony in Hungary, and travelled by train to Budapest. At the time of our visit, 45 students had been waiting for the next flight at the Indian Embassy, at the Amrita Sher-Gil cultural center.
The main hall was refitted with mattresses to accommodate the students for a short stay. Some volunteers like us gave food and beverages, others are helping the students with information, and organizing their trips to the airport.
During our visit, a large bus just rolled into the narrow streets around the embassy, presumably to take the students to the airport. A student we interviewed expressed his gratitude for the volunteers and the people of Hungary: “We came through Zahony, and already there we received a warm welcome, blankets, food and kind words. Here also in Budapest, many people showed up to help. We definitely did not expect such a welcoming atmosphere from Hungary, and the efforts of the Indian government to take us home,” he said.
The students looked on with a tired but eager glance at their bus to the airport, waiting to finally go home, as we bid farewell to them.
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