'Can Hear Blasts, Running Out Of Money': Indian Students In Ukraine Urge Govt For Safe, Quick Evacuation

Thousands of students have queue up outside the Indian Embassy in Kyiv seeking help from authorties as they ran out of food and money.

Indian students arrive at Indira Gandhi International airport from Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (Getty Image)

New Delhi: As the fate of Ukraine is looking increasingly uncertain with Russia launching a series of strikes across the country, students stranded in the war-torn nation on Thursday appealed to the Indian government to bring them home safely and quickly.

According to reports, thousands of students have queue up outside the Indian Embassy in Kyiv seeking help from authorties as they ran out of food and money.

Message from Embassy of India, Kyiv to Government of Ukraine for safety & security of Indian Students in Ukraine. @MEAIndia @PMOIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi @DDNational @IndiainUkraine pic.twitter.com/Ou9g99s4IR

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022

The family members of stranded students have also requested for the safe evacuation of their children. Currently, around 20,000 Indians, mostly students, are stuck in Ukraine.

Shekhar Bendol, a fourth year MBBS student at Odessa National Medical University, who hails from Agra, said that he was not able to leave Ukraine due to delay in advisory and the cancellation of flights. He also said that air companies have now increase in price of flight tickets. 

"Now the situation is very tense, because one can hear bomb blast sound from the hostel," he told news agency PTI.

Bendol also stated that people in Ukraine are just too worried. "One can spot long queues at ATMs and shopping marts. I would request the Indian government to help us in coming back to India," he urged.

Another student Rajat Singh, who is pursuing MBBS from the same university, was also worried due to the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

"We are also regularly watching news updates to know about the present situation. Rajat went to Ukraine on February 14 from India. But the situation has become problematic now in Ukraine," his mother told PTI.

Divyanshu Gehlot, president of the Indian student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, told news agency IANS, "The situation here is really bad. Bombs are exploding in every 15 minutes since morning. We plead with folded hands to the Indian Embassy and Government of India to get us out of here. We ran out of food and there is no money in ATM."

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy has issued advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine urging them not to move out and stay wherever they are. The embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the embassy via its official social media handles and helpline numbers.

Third Advisory to all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine.@MEAIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi @DDNational @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/naRTQQKVyS

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022

Earlier in the day, an Air India plane which was sent to bring back students from Kiev, had to return because of missile attacks and closure of air space by Ukraine.

Reacting to outcry of stranded students and their parents, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia flights to Ukraine will resume when situation improves and the country opens its air space.

As the air space in Ukraine remain closed, government said that alternative arrangements are being made for the evacuation of Indian nationals. 

(With inputs from agenices)