More than 170 students seek evacuation from Ukraine
Srinagar: Fear has gripped the Kashmiri students studying in different universities and colleges of Ukraine after Russia announced military operations.
As many as 170 Kashmiri students are reportedly stuck in the country and are seeking immediate evacuation owing to the prevailing situation in Ukraine. The students have also urged the J&K administration to take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to evacuate them to their homesl.
Some of the students stuck in Ukraine also posted their appeal to the concerned authorities by posting their videos on social media.
“There is no sign of war until now. War is still far away but we don’t know how far it is going to be. So we request the concerned authorities in India, Ministry of External Affairs to evacuate students to safeguard their lives,” Uzair Hamid, a Kashmiri student studying in Ukraine, said in his video message.
Another student in his video message asked people back home in Kashmir, “not to panic as the situation was peaceful as of now.”
“So far we are safe here and we have been taking normal classes for the last two weeks. But classes were closed today at our University as some blast sounds were heard,” the Kashmiri student in his video message said.
He said students from other parts of India have left for their homes while some were still in Ukraine. “But as of now we are all safe,” he said.
However students stuck in other parts of Ukraine said the situation was tense for the last few days.
“We are restless as nobody knows what will happen in the next few days. There is an atmosphere of fear and war like situation all over,” another Kashmiri student said.
The students are currently staying in the hostel but most of them have kept their bags packed owing to the prevailing uncertain situation in Ukraine.
“The officials of the university advised us to shift to the basement of the university. Situation here is very scary as Russia is capturing government buildings and we also study in a government university here,” said Adnan, a Kashmiri student.
While the students are praying for their safety, the airline companies, according to students, have hiked their airfare amid the uncertain situation.
“Earlier the airfare from Ukraine to India was around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40, 000 which has now been hiked to Rs 70,000. We are frightened as the airport is also under attack and no one can dare to travel towards it,” he said. The students have also approached the J&K students Association (JKSA) and sought their help for evacuation.
