Woke Up To Sounds Of Air Raid Sirens: Indian Evacuee From Israel
Mumbai: An Indian national, Shashwat, who returned to Delhi from war-hit Israel, narrated his ordeal, saying that he and his wife woke up to the sounds of air raid sirens.
On Saturday morning, Hamas launched an unexpected and unexpected onslaught on Israel’s southern regions. It’s the bloodiest day in Israel in at least 50 years, with at least 700 people killed and over 2,100 injured.
“We woke up to sounds of air raid sirens. We stay in central Israel and I don’t know what shape this conflict will take,” said Shashwat Singh soon after landing at Delhi airport along with his wife.
The agricultural post-doctoral researcher, who has been studying in Israel since 2019, claimed that the sound of those sirens and the terrifying events of the previous few days continue to trouble him.
Singh hailed the Indian evacuation as a “praiseworthy step” shortly after the plane touched down. “We’re hoping for a return to calm and our ability to work. Through email, the Indian government contacted us. Prime Minister Modi and the Indian Embassy in Israel have our gratitude.
After several heinous attacks on Israeli villages by Hamas terrorists over the weekend caused new tension in the area, India started Operation Ajay to help people who want to return home.
After returning home, several students talked about that fatal Saturday night and how they had to repeatedly run to shelters after Hamas launched rocket attacks.
Another Indian who arrived in Delhi on the special aircraft was Suparno Ghosh, a native of West Bengal who is a first-year PhD student at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel.
We were unable to ascertain what transpired. There were some rocket launches on Saturday. However, we found safety in shelters; fortunately, the Israeli government has constructed shelters everywhere, so we were secure,” he remarked.
A number of female pupils also related the harrowing circumstances they encountered during the attacks. “There was a state of terror. There, we are only students, not citizens. Therefore, anytime the sirens sound, we fly into a panic,” Mini Sharma, a local of Jaipur, told PTI.
When asked when she found out about the rescue mission, she said, “Just the day before.”
“We received a communication from the Indian Embassy yesterday morning, so we packed our luggage. They were really beneficial. We have constant communication with them,” Sharma remarked.
Another student, Deepak, stated, “On Saturday, we heard sirens. The sound of the attack was also audible to us. The Israeli officials were giving us instructions on how to take precautions. While I’m glad to be back home, I’m also sorry that our friends are still in Israel.”
The youngster told reporters that the evacuation went quite well.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel while about a dozen people are in the West Bank and three to four are in Gaza.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed the passengers at the Delhi airport as they streamed into the lounge area from the tarmac side. He greeted them with folded hands and also shook hands with many of them saying, “Welcome home”.
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