New Delhi

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri returned from Hungary on Monday along with the last batch of Indian students from Budapest after overseeing Operation Ganga to bring back people from war-torn Ukraine.

The students had crossed over to Hungary from Ukraine before they were airlifted in batches. A total of 6711 students were flown home to India from Budapest.

"Delighted to reach Delhi with the last batch of our 6711 students from Budapest. There is joy, enthusiasm & relief as youngsters reach home & will soon be with their parents & families. Deeply privileged to be of help," Puri tweeted after their arrival.

Delighted to reach Delhi with the last batch of our 6711 students from Budapest. There is joy, enthusiasm & relief as youngsters reach home & will soon be with their parents & families.
Deeply privileged to be of help. #OperationGanga @PMOIndia @MEAIndia @IndiaInHungary pic.twitter.com/hqUngUaOCj

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) March 7, 2022

Over the past week, more than 16,000 Indian students have been evacuated from Ukraine under Operation Ganga.

Barring Kharkiv and Sumy, almost all Indians from the remaining regions of Ukraine have been evacuated.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said, "Despite shelling, roadblocks, diversions and other major adversities, food and water continued to be delivered to Pisochyn, in whatever quantities and means available."

Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities.