Ukraine crisis: AP students stranded; families appeal for early evacuation
On Thursday, some of the students from Andhra Pradesh who booked a flight to India were forced to return back to their place, after Russians attacked the airport.
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 24 Feb 2022 7:51 AM GMT
Andhra Pradesh: Panic has gripped the students of Andhra Pradesh studying in Ukraine after Russia declared war. There are almost 300 students from Andhra Pradesh who are pursuing MBBS, engineering, and other courses in Ukraine.
A few days ago, the Indian Embassy asked its nationals to leave temporarily. However, the students stayed back because the airfare had gone through the roof. A one-way ticket from Ukraine to India costs Rs 70,000.
"The flight tickets for India are seen at Rs 50,000-Rs 70,000. Many of us suffer from the financial crisis. In such a situation, we were worried about how to go back to India. Now that the situation has turned worse, we are trying to stock up food and other essentials", said a student from Bhimavaram.
An Air India Aircraft flying to Ukraine to bring home Indians returned to Delhi after Ukraine closed its airspace. On Thursday, some of the students from Andhra Pradesh who booked a flight to India were forced to return back to their place, after Russians attacked the airport.
According to one of the students from Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, they have booked tickets for India and traveled one night from their place to the airport. He said they reached on Thursday morning. However, the situation turned worse after they heard an explosion at the airport.
For a final year medical student from Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, many of the students are worrying about their career which is one of the reasons they did not take a call to fly back to India.
"We have been waiting to hear from the university. It was only on Wednesday night that they announced online classes. When we checked the flight's situation, we got information on the closing of the airport", said a medical student who is a native of Vijayawada.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has extended full support to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for evacuating Andhra Pradesh students from Ukraine. Several students from Andhra Pradesh studying in various colleges in Ukraine, have sent SoS to the state government seeking help for safe evacuation given the tensions.
The state government has established contact with students and assured them the necessary support and assistance. Jagan has asked the officials to stay in touch with MEA and the Embassy on the evolving situation. The government is trying to figure out the total number of AP students studying in Ukraine.
"I would like to bring to your kind notice that the Government of Andhra Pradesh will extend all possible support to the Government of India in repatriating students of Andhra from Ukraine. I request the concerned MEA officials to reach out to Resident Commissioner Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi or Officials from my office (Chief Ministers Office, Andhra Pradesh) for any assistance and support required for repatriating students belonging to AP", Jagan said in the letter to Jaishankar.
The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday issued an advisory requesting all Indians in Ukraine to maintain calm and remain safe wherever there are. "The present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain. Please maintain calm and remain safe wherever you are, be it in your homes, hostels, accommodations, or in transit. All those travelling to Kyiv including those travelling from western parts of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily, especially towards safer places along the western bordering countries," read the advisory. It added that further advisories will be issued in case of any updates.
