Bhubaneswar: More than 470 Indian students in Ukraine crossed over to Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border on Friday. “We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland,” the official Twitter handle of the Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine, said.
Meanwhile, in Berhampur, a family heaved a sigh of relief after their daughter Akansha, a fourth-year medical student, informed them that she would take a bus to Romania before boarding a flight to India. In Rourkela, around 25 families are spending sleepless nights with their children, pursuing different courses in Ukraine, are stranded there following the Russian invasion.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced that his government would bear the expenses of bringing back students and workers from Odisha stranded in Ukraine. He also discussed their safe return with Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Odisha has so far collected information about 1,200 students from the state being stranded in Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 9,600 students from Odisha had travelled abroad for education in the last 5 years.
On Saturday, the Embassy again issued another advisory asking students not to move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of the Embassy of India, Kyiv.
“The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. The embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior Intimation,” it said.
The Embassy also advised students, staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities, against heading for the border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation. “All those currently in the Eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient. Avoid unnecessary movement,” it added.
