| Translate This News In |
|---|
This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level meeting on the Ukraine crisis and the stranded Indian students caught in the crossfire of Russia’s invasion.
According to government sources, some Union Ministers may travel to Ukraine’s neighboring countries to coordinate the evacuation of students. Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and VK Singh are among the ministers who are expected to fly out for the mission.
Around 16,000 students are thought to be trapped in Ukraine, hiding in bunkers, bomb shelters, or the basements of their hostels.
Opposition parties, primarily the Congress, have been sharing videos of students’ SOS and criticizing the government for not resuming classes sooner.
A few were able to fly out just before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine last Thursday.
Those who remain in the country have been attempting to make their way to the border in order to board Air India evacuation flights from neighboring countries such as Romania, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, and Poland.
Many students have set out on foot in order to cross the border.
On Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter that Indian citizens should not travel to any border posts without first consulting with government officials via helpline numbers. According to the embassy, it is difficult to assist those who arrive at border checkpoints without informing them.
According to the embassy, staying in western Ukrainian cities with access to water, food, lodging, and basic amenities is safer and more prudent than arriving at border checkpoints unprepared.
On Saturday, the first evacuation flight, AI1944, returned 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai.
The second evacuation flight, carrying 250 people, arrived in Delhi around 2.45 a.m. on Sunday.
Indians who crossed the border into Romania and Hungary were driven to Bucharest and Budapest by government officials so that they could be evacuated on these Air India flights.
