All 105 Indians evacuated from Kyrgyzstan cities

New Delhi: All the 105 Indians, stranded in violence-hit Southern Kyrgyz towns of Osh and Jalal-Abad, have been evacuated to capital Bishkek and will return to India in the next few days as the death toll in five days of ethnic clashes climbed to 124.
    
Noting that a number of Indian nationals, primarily students, were stranded in southern Kyrgyzstan due to civil disturbances, the spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry Vishnu Prakash said "despite the heavy odds, the Embassy of India in Bishkek, in close coordination and support of the Kyrgyz authorities, managed to safely evacuate all the Indian nationals to Bishkek late last night."
    
Asked about the discrepancy about the number of Indians who were safely rescued as the Ministry yesterday had given a figure of 116 Indians stranded, the sources said it was based on the initial assessment which included some Bangladeshis and Nepalese nationals also. (Your Comments)

Prakash said the Embassy has arranged for hostel accommodation and meals as possible under the circumstances for them in Bishkek. (See pics)

"Some of the students have lost their passports. Our Mission will issue new passports and other travel documents as required in such cases. While some of the students want to stay on at Bishkek, some others would like to return to India.

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The Mission was making efforts to ensure that the students travel to India over the next few days by commercial or chartered flights which are operating normally in and out of Bishkek, he said adding the Indian Embassy in Bishkek has worked hard to assist the Indian nationals in distress and continues to extend all possible assistance to them.

According to Kyrgyz officials, 124 people have died and 1,685 people injured in the clashes since last week.

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However, ethnic Uzbeks alleged many more have been killed and accused government forces of helping Kyrgyz mobs in their deadly rampage.
    
On whether a travel advisory will be issued, sources said "we are following the situation very closely and there is normalcy in cities like Bishkek."