Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik spoke to Odisha students, who had returned from embattled Ukraine, via video conferencing from Delhi International Airport, on Monday.
“We are so relieved that you are back. We are also working on evacuating other students of Odisha as soon as possible,” he said.
The students shared their experiences with the CM. “After getting the notification from Odisha government on February 25, we contacted the Resident Commissioner Ravi Kant on Whatsapp, apprising him of our situation and evacuation plan. Most students are being evacuated from the Urkrian-Romanian border. After crossing over to Romania, we were taken to Bucharest by the Indian Embassy officials. We then board the Air India flight at night and landed in Delhi. We were then taken to Odisha Bhawan,” said one of the evacuees.
They, however, expressed their apprehensions over the fate of their friends still stranded in the strife-torn country. “Odia students are mostly stuck in Kharkiv region, which has been facing the onslaught of Russian invasion, and are staying in shelters. It is important to take them out of there since there is no transportation facility available there,” a student said.
Naveen assured the students that efforts are being stepped up to ensure their safe return. “I have already spoken to the Home Minister and External Affairs Minister and will again contact them,” he said.
Notably, the fifth flight, carrying 249 Indian nationals from Ukraine, under Operation Ganga landed at the Delhi airport this morning. The Indian nationals had boarded the Air India flight at Bucharest in Romania. A majority of the students rescued in these flights are from medical universities in the western-most part of Ukraine. However, most said they knew of more students who were currently hiding in bunkers.
The Resident Commissioner, who was present during the meeting, later told the media that seven students from the state have reached New Delhi and another 500 are still stuck in the strife-torn country.
“We are in touch with the students. Our teams are working in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation,” he said.
Kant further said they will be able to evacuate 25 per cent of these students in the next couple of days. “We have set up a control room and are reaching out to the students. We are arranging food, transportation and addressing the issues faced by them,” he added.
