Over 1,500 Odisha students trapped in Ukraine amid Russian invasion
Over 1,500 Odisha students trapped in Ukraine amid Russian invasion
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Bhubaneswar: More than 1,500 Odisha students are stranded in Ukraine's crisis zones, terrified, out of food, water, and money, and awaiting evacuation.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, many of the medical students who share residences at National Medical University in Kharkiv and Kyiv Medical University have been relocated to bomb shelters and safe zones.
Their parents have pleaded vehemently with the Centre and the Odisha government to return them to their home state. It's becoming increasingly difficult for kids to communicate with their parents as the internet and communication connections become less reliable.
The noises of air raid sirens and explosions are constantly ringing across the cities, according to the students.
After the West warned of an impending Russian attack and the Indian government advised its residents to flee, the students began making arrangements to depart Ukraine.
Many people had either booked tickets or were in the midst of doing so, hoping to board planes in the first week of March. They were straining to come up with the money to pay the charge of over Rs 1 lakh, which was three times the typical price.
However, on Thursday, Ukraine blocked its airspace to civilian flights, leaving passengers trapped in combat zones. Their only chance now is to be evacuated by the Indian government.
Several Odia students were scheduled to fly aboard an Air India flight that returned empty when Ukraine blocked its airspace on Thursday morning. Trip AI1947, destined for Kyiv to transport Indians back to India, was diverted to Delhi in the middle of the flight.
Many Odia students who had arrived at the airport to catch a flight were ordered to return since Kyiv airport was closed.
"The current situation in Ukraine is quite precarious. The Indian Embassy said, "Please remain calm and secure wherever you are."
Earlier, a special flight from Ukraine arrived in Delhi carrying 182 Indians, including students, making it Air India's second journey to return Indians. On February 22, the first flight returned with approximately 240 Indians.
