Chennai: R Vadivelu, a parent of Amirtha Siva who is currently pursuing medicine at Kyiv University in Ukraine frantically keeps calling her to know about her whereabouts every hour and is traumatised to think about her safety.
On Thursday, the moment he heard about the recent developments and the crisis escalating between Ukraine and Russia, he got shattered. As of now, he just awaits to hear that one call informing him that his daughter has been evacuated from the foreign country.
Talking to IANS, Vadivelu said, "I told her to return when Indian government-operated flights but she told me that she was amidst attending exams and she cannot return back to Tamil Nadu now."
On Thursday, Russia declared war against Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin warned outsiders to not interfere in the crisis. After the announcement was made on television, explosions were heard in Ukraine and later in Russia. Several militants were reported dead from both sides.
In this backdrop, R Vadivelu is not the only parent who is worried about his stranded daughter. Along with Vadivelu, there are parents of over 5,000 students from Tamil Nadu stranded in Ukraine who are distressed over their child's safety.
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Currently, the only hope for them is the government agencies with whom they are constantly in touch from Thursday. Amudavally who has her son Karthik studying Naval architecture in Ukraine said, "My son is ar Kiev and I am worried to see the developments and the blasts that are taking place near Kiev."
"I don't have any clue on how he will return but we are in touch with the TN government. They have assured us that they are monitoring the situation along with Union External Affairs Ministry," she said. However, she urged the government to bring back her son.
As 5,000 students from Tamil Nadu are stranded in Ukraine, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin wrote to Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar seeking the Centre’s help. The CM said, "In the light of the serious conflict between Russia and Ukraine, I've requested Hon'ble @DrSJaishankar to intervene immediately to evacuate thousands of students from Tamil Nadu who are stranded in Ukraine and to nominate a nodal officer for better coordination with Govt of TN."
He said, "I request the Indian government to take up the issue with the authorities there for evacuating them out of Ukraine immediately. I also request Indian government to arrange for Special Mission Flights like Vande Bharath Mission to evacuate them from various parts of Ukraine."