Indian nationals praise Centre for evacuating them from Syria

Ravi Bhushan, the first Indian national out of 75 to return home, told ANI: "India has started a rescue operation and we are the first team who rescued from Syria. The best part is that they contacted each and everyone."

"They were even motivating them and asking them if they were okay. The Syrian embassy was updating us through messages every hour about when and what they are going to do with regards to rescue operation," he said.

"We are very much thankful to Indian government and Indian embassy at Lebanon and Syria both places," the rescued person said.

He appreciated the Indian government's stance to rescue them when people from other nations were struggling.

“We saw how people from other countries were suffering. We saw small children and women, how they were made to sit outside for over 10-12 hours in the 4-5 degree temperature. It was really horrible. But because of Indian government, we did not face any such kind of issue,” he told ANI.

Syria witnessed a political crisis after rebels captured Damascus and other Syria cities to oust President Bashar al-Assad from power.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday said 75 Indian nationals, including 44 people from Jammu and Kashmir, were recovered from Syria, days after rebel forces overthrew former President Basharal-Assad's regime.