SHIMLA, February 25: Himachal Government has issued helpline 1100 for state citizens, whose members are stuck in Ukraine. But there are over 15000 Indian Nationals mainly students, who have been urging Government of India to evacuate them safely as they could hear the sounds of bombing near Ukraine capital Kyiv.
The videos of students stuck in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine urging the Government of India to evacuate them safely from the war-torn Ukraine, have gone viral on social media.
The safety of Indian nationals and for that matter others there, have assumed alarming concern as the war is unlikely to halt as Russia has justified its military operation in Ukraine on the ground that Kyiv regime has allegedly unleased "alleged abuse and genocide of people of republics of Donbas and Luhansk over the last eight years in violation of February 22 agreement"- a charge that Kyiv has been denying. Russia has also warned any country who interferes in this will get an instant response and face consequences unknown in history", V Putin said in a video message translated from Russian into English, which is released by The New York Times today.
On the other hand, Indian embassy and universities in Ukraine have advised the students and other nationals to shift to the basements of their hostels, underground metros and bunkers to ensure their safety, revealed the posts of students on social media.
The students from western part of Ukraine, who had landed in India three days ago in the last flight said that they paid Rs 67000 per ticket to reach India whereas they used to pay Rs 22000 in normal times. Even then there are no flights available now as Ukraine has closed its airspace.
Even the students who were going towards the western part of Ukraine were asked to return to their cities and hostels.
Even the ATMs have run out of cash as there were long lines of the people seeking cash from the banks. They need cash as they have to make payment for groceries and other essentials as online payment is not accepted for these items in many cities in Ukraine, said the students.
According to the students who have landed in India, there still are over 15000 students stuck in Ukraine. The number could be more as there are other nationals as well, they said.
Though the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued helplines and advisory to Indian Nationals stranded in Ukraine, but the evacuation has not taken place as the safety of the citizens is now a prime concern”.
The evacuation of Indian nationals had stopped as Ukraine has closed its airspace for all International flights following the Russian aircrafts ponding its naval base as peace initiatives started by world powers including the UNSC have paid little dividend in connection with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to the MEA advisory issued on Thursday, the international airplanes cannot operate since the Ukraine has closed its airspace and the schedule for special flights stood cancelled. "Alternate arrangements are being made for evacuation of Indian nationals", said the MEA.
Embassy will convey information as soon as such arrangements are finalised and will ensure that the Indian national can relocate to the western part of the country. “Please carry your passports and necessary documents on your person at all times”, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged the Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine.
You are advised to follow the best website on social media, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts for updates on this regard for reference of detail of the embassy helplines are contained below with the numbers, MEA said.
The Congress legislators including leader of the opposition in Vidhan sabha Mukesh Agnihotri also raised security concern of the people from Himachal stranded in the war-torn Ukraine and urged the leader of the House and Chief Minister to ensure their safe return to India.
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur told the media and House that they took the matter with Ministry of External Affairs and has issued helpline 1100 for family members to inform the government about their members stranded in Ukraine. They should feel secure and follow the advisory issued by Government of India and Embay in Ukraine and there are over 130 people from Himachal stranded in Ukraine, Thakur said.
Uttarakhand and Northeastern State governments have also urged the MEA to ensure safety of the people of their states stuck in Ukraine and make arrangements to bring them back safely.
They can contact the helpline numbers as below:
- +38 0997300483
- +38 0997300428
- +38 0933980327
- +380635917881
- +380935046170
