Featured

Airspace Closed, Awaiting Evacuation: Over 1,500 Students From Odisha Caught In Ukraine’s War Zones

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: More than 1,500 students from Odisha are caught in Ukraine’s war zones, fear-struck, running out of food, water and cash, and desperately awaiting evacuation.

Mostly medical students at National Medical University in Kharkiv and Kyiv Medical University who share apartments, many of them have been shifted to bomb shelters and safe zones since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

Back in Odisha, their parents have made frantic appeals to the Centre and the Odisha government to bring them back immediately. With internet and communication lines becoming unreliable, it is increasingly becoming touch-and-go for the students to stay in touch with their parents.

According to the students, sounds of air raid sirens and explosions are constantly ringing in the cities.

The students had started making preparations to leave Ukraine after the West warned of an imminent attack by Russia and the Indian government asked its citizens to fly out.

Hopeful of boarding flights in the first week of March, many had either booked tickets or were in the process, struggling to arrange cash to pay the fare of over Rs 1 lakh, three times more than normal prices.

But Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights on Thursday, leaving them stranded in conflict zones. Their only hope now is the Indian government evacuating them.

Several Odia students were booked on the Air India flight which returned empty on Thursday morning after Ukraine closed its airspace. Air India flight AI1947, bound for Kyiv to bring back Indians, turned back midflight to Delhi.

With Kyiv airport closed, many Odia students who had reached the airport to catch the flight were told to go back.

“The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm & remain safe wherever you are,” the Indian Embassy advised.

Earlier, a special flight from Ukraine landed in Delhi with 182 Indians, including students, the second operated by Air India to bring back Indians. The first flight on February 22 brought back around 240 Indians.

Also read: https://odishabytes.com/watch-ukraine-parents-urge-govt-to-bring-back-stranded-odia-students/

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Bidding Process Begins For Odisha Capital Region Ring Road: Aparajita Sarangi

Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated the process for the construction…

November 23, 2024

Kalpana Soren Hailed As X Factor As JMM Leads In Jharkhand; Know Her Odisha Connection

Ranchi/Bhubaneswar: Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren Hemant Soren, was…

November 23, 2024

Maharashtra Polls: Split Politics Deals A Blow To ‘Chanakya’ Sharad Pawar & Uddhav’s Sena Pride

Mumbai: Once dubbed as the Chanakya of Maharashtra politics, Sharad Pawar has faced a significant…

November 23, 2024

Odisha CS Directs All Depts To Ensure Full Pension To Employees On Retirement Day

Bhubaneswar: All the government departments in Odisha have been directed to ensure payment of full…

November 23, 2024

Odisha Begins Preparation For Prez Droupadi Murmu’s 5-Day Visit Next Month

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has begun preparations for the five-day visit of President Droupadi Murmu…

November 23, 2024

VC Selection For Odisha Universities After Amendment Of Law: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The state government is all set to amend the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, 2020…

November 23, 2024

Low Pressure Forms Over Bay Of Bengal; Mercury Drops Below 16°C In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A low-pressure area formed over east Equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southeast Bay of…

November 23, 2024

Bypolls: BJP-RLD Alliance Leading In 6 UP Seats, Trinamool Set To Make A Clean Sweep In Bengal

Uttar Pradesh: The counting of votes for nine seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly bypolls…

November 23, 2024