Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that the entire government machinery is working "round the clock to ensure that all Indian nationals there are safe and secure" in Ukraine. The assurance came amid mounting criticism of government efforts as frantic students in the war-torn country tweeted a flood of videos of the hardships they are facing. Back home, their frantic parents and friends appealed that they be evacuated as soon as possible.
After reviewing Operation Ganga -- the evacuation programme for Indians in Ukraine -- this evening, PM Modi pointed out that the visit of four senior ministers as his Special Envoys to nations bordering Ukraine will "energize the evacuation efforts," said the foreign ministry.
"It is reflective of the priority the government attaches to this matter," tweeted senior ministry official Arindam Bagchi after the Prime Minister's meeting -- the third in 24 hours.
PM Modi has also said India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine.
"Guided by India's motto of the world being one family, Prime Minister also stated that India will help people from neighbouring countries and developing countries who are stranded in Ukraine and may seek assistance," the ministry said in a statement.
Mr Bagchi also said the Prime Minister noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine will be dispatched tomorrow.
Sources earlier said following a request from the Ukrainian government, India has agreed to send humanitarian assistance including medical supplies to the nation besieged by Russian forces since Thursday.
The flurry of meetings started last evening as videos from students stranded in Ukraine poured in and flooded social media. Along with it were posts from their worried families and friends, demanding that the government immediately bring them home.
The Prime Minister held a meeting in the morning to discuss the stranded students, during which it was decided that four senior ministers will fly to border nations to coordinate their evacuation.
Ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and VK Singh will travel to the countries surrounding Ukraine as special Indian envoys to help with the evacuation. Jyotiraditya Scindia will be in charge of Romania and Moldova; Kiren Rijiju will fly to Slovakia; Hardeep Puri will go to Hungary and VK Singh will be at Poland.
The foreign ministry has said the stranded students should try to make their way to the border towns in western Ukraine after consultation with the authorities and not reach the border directly.
But videos continued to come from students, who alleged that they were not being allowed on trains which are going to these areas.
Earlier today, a student sent a desperate appeal for help from Kyiv railway station, saying they were being "attacked with sticks" and physically "thrown out of trains" when they went to a station for evacuation under the instructions of the Indian embassy.