78 Indians flown to safety

Over 100 Indian nationals, mainly students, are trapped in two cities in Kyrgyzstan, which has been hit by ethnic violence for the last five days.

The external affairs ministry said here Monday that at least 116 Indian nationals are stranded in southern Kyrgyzstan, including 15 students in the city of Jalalabad and 99 students, a professor and a businessman in the city of Osh.

One ICCR professor and 77 Indian students were evacuated late Monday night to Bishkek and Indian efforts are on to evacuate the others.

An MEA statement said the Indian embassy in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, is in close and regular touch with several Indian in the affected region as well as with Kyrgyz government departments and security agencies.

At least 117 people have been killed and over 1,485 wounded in spiralling ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan since June 10.

Indian diplomatic sources in Bishkek said the embassy is trying to organise a special aircraft to fly the stranded Indians out from Osh.

“As soon the situation permits, the Indians will be flown,” sources quoted by PTI said.