Ganga, Kaveri, Dost, Sankat Mochan: 10 Rescue operations carried out by Modi government so far

“If you are struck on the Mars, Indian Embassy there will help you,” former Indian External Affairs Minister late Sushma Swaraj said about India’s determination to rescue its citizens stranded on foreign soil. Whether it’s a war or any natural calamity, India has never abandoned its citizens abroad and can be credited for carrying out successful evacuation missions, which not only brought back Indian nationals but also rescued foreigners stranded in a difficult situation. 

As the fourth flight of Operation Ajay, designated to rescue Indians stranded in Israel landed on Indian soil, let’s look back to 10 rescue operations carried out by the Narendra Modi government in a span of less than 10 years and their unique names, beginning with Operation Ajay. 

Operation Ajay

As Israel Defense Forces decided to retaliate in the aftermath of a surprise attack on its southern territory, New Delhi sanctioned ‘Operation Ajay’ to bring back 18,000 Indian nationals including students struck in the war zone, as the situation could go out of hand any time, as Hamas group attacked Israel, killing 1300 Israelis and taking another 120 hostages in the southern part of the country. 

The fourth flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday, October 15. The Indian Embassy in Israel has been providing assistance to Indians there and the Indian nations are asked to board flights as contacted by the Indian authorities through mail. The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

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(The fourth flight from Israel under 'Operation Ajay' carrying 274 Indian passengers landed in the national capital on Sunday. | Image- PTI) 

Operation Kaveri 

In April this year, India launched Operation Kaveri to bring back 3,000 stranded Indians in conflict-ridden Sudan. Indian ships and aircraft were deployed for the mission. India facilitated the movement of stranded Indians from Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah through Air Force’s C-130 aircraft and a naval ship was also placed at Port Sudan. 

(Indians board an IAF C-130 flight to depart from Port Sudan for Jeddah under Operation Kaveri. | Image- PTI)

Violence had erupted in Sudan after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in a conflict. 

Operation Dost 

Following a massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February this year, India launched Operation Dost to extend necessary search and rescue operations along with medical operations. India was among the first responders to search and provide rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.  India sent 250 personnel, with specialised equipment to carry out rescue operations and relief material amounting to around 135 tons.

(PM Modi interacts with NDRF personnel involved in 'Operation Dost' in Turkiye. | Image- PTI)

The assistance also included a field hospital and medicines. India said that it was providing assistance to the two countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is one family). 

Operation Ganga

Operation Ganga was sanctioned as an evacuation mission by the Indian government to rescue Indian students stranded in Ukraine, after Russia launched a specialised military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. 

As per the Indian External Affairs Ministry, around 20,000 Indian nationals, mostly students, were stranded in the war-torn country. India had carried out an elaborate plan of evacuation where Indian nationals were evacuated through flights operating from neighbouring countries of Ukraine, including Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. The Indian government had deployed union ministers for the task, who were on the ground until the last stranded Indian national was flown back to the country. 

(Indian nationals board a special Air India flight, evacuating Indians from war-torn Ukraine. | Image- PTI)

The Indian government had even relaxed evacuation norms after many students refused to board evacuation flights without their pets, even without proper vaccination certificates. The call was made by the Indian government at a time when it was to prioritise human lives above all. Reports suggest that over 200 pets were airlifted during the mission in civilian and military aircraft. 

Operation Devi Shakti

As the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Operation Devi Shakti’ to ensure the evacuation of all Indians from Afghanistan. Not only Indian nationals, the Indian government decided that it would also provide help to Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who wish to move out of the country after the Taliban’s takeover. The Indian Air Force had played a major role in the operation. 

(AI 1956 en route to Delhi from Dushanbe carrying 78 passengers, including 25 Indian nationals. | Image- X/MEAIndia)

What captured the attention of the entire world was that Indian aircraft also brought back three hand-written copies of Guru Granth Sahib along with Sikhs. The holy scriptures were received by Union Minister for Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri. 

Operation Vande Bharat 

As the deadly Coronavirus spread across the world, the Indian government launched Operation Vande Bharat to bring back Indians stranded in foreign countries as nations were going into lockdown. The operation was carried out in multiple phases and about 60 lakh Indians were brought back to India from different parts of the world. 

(Indian nationals being brought back by Air India flights during Covid-19 pandemic | Image- Facebook/ Air India)

The Indian government has been credited for carrying out one of the largest civilian repatriation missions carried out by any country in recent history. The decision to carry out such a mission was taken after the Indian authorities started receiving requests to facilitate the return of Indian nationals, as most of the commercial flights were suspended.  

The Indian diaspora living around the world had returned to the country via the air route. While the mission initially permitted Air India flights, other private players were extended permission to join the mission. 

Operation Samudra Setu 

While Operation Vande Bharat focused on bringing back Indians via air, the Indian government launched Operation Samudra Setu to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian Navy was roped in for the mission. 

Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Airavat, Shardul and Magar participated in the operation and brought back around 4000 Indian nationals. The operation lasted for over 55 days and involved traversing more than 23,000 kilometres. 

(Indian nationals deboard INS Jalashwa after arriving at Tuticorin harbour from Maldives under Operation Samudra Setu. | Image- PTI)

In the second phase of the operation, Operation Samudra Setu-II, naval ships were deployed for the shipment of oxygen containers and other medical equipment from different countries. Naval ships like INS Kolkata and INS Talwar had carried back 40 tonnes of liquid oxygen from countries like Manama, and Bahrain to Mumbai. 

Operation Sankat Mochan 

In 2016, the Indian government launched ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ to bring back stranded citizens from South Sudan after violence broke out in the country when a former rebel group clashed with the incumbent government. 

Indian External Affairs Ministry’s data suggests that at the time of violence, around 600 Indians were stranded in South Sudan, out of them 450 were stranded in Juba and nearly 150 were stranded outside the capital city. The operation was undertaken by Union Minister VK Singh. 

(Indian nationals being brought back from South Sudan under the guidance of Minister VK Singh. | Image- PTI)

The Indian nationals, after arriving in India, were seen crying saying that if the Indian government had not acted swiftly, the citizens wouldn’t have been safe and sound. 

Operation Maitri 

In 2015, the Indian government launched ‘Operation Maitri’- a full-fledged rescue and relief operation after a fatal earthquake hit Nepal. The Indian Army had evacuated 170 foreign citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany among others. Further, the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Army brought over 5000 Indian families back from Nepal, and Kathmandu and Pokhara were used as bases by the forces. India had also sent 18 medical teams, 12 engineer teams and 24 tonnes of relief material. 

(India launched Operation Maitri, sending aid to Nepal after it was hit by a massive earthquake. | Image- PTI)

Operation Raahat 

The first such repartition mission that brought limelight to the efforts of the Indian government was Operation Raahat, which was launched by the Narendra Modi government to bring back stranded people from Yemen in 2015 after a war began in the Middle Eastern country. 

(Indian nationals being brought back from war-hit Yemen. | Image- PTI) 

The Indian government rescued Indian nationals settled in Yemen along with foreigners hailing from 30 different countries through naval ships. The Indian Navy had also brought back the body of an Indian national who had succumbed to injuries sustained during the bombing in Aden city. The rescue operations were carried out both by air and sea routes.