Indian students scramble for home amid escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions
Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the Indian students pursuing higher education in Ukraine have been caught in an uncertain and difficult situation. Several parents across Gurugram and Faridabad have issued appeals to the government to arrange the immediate evacuation of their wards.
Over 20,000 Indians are presently in Ukraine including 18,000 students. According to the website of the ministry of education and science of Ukraine, 24% of overseas students in Ukraine are from India.
The students are going through the hectic process of looking for tickets to return to India and here their parents are worried for obvious reasons.
Indian embassy had earlier asked the students and other Indians to constantly stay in touch with them. The varsity is also extending assistance to the students. There are around 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine. Most of them are medical students.
The advisories issued by the Indian Embassy have clearly mentioned that the situation is ‘bad‘. After the second advisory, even students are thinking to return to India. Besides, the universities have also kept the option of going home open.
February 15, amid growing Ukraine-Russia tension, the Indian embassy in Kyiv issued an advisory that said in view of the “uncertainties” in Ukraine, Indian nationals in Ukraine, particularly students whose stay is not essential, “may consider leaving temporarily”.
Considering the rise in tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Indian citizens whose stay in the country is not essential to have been advised to leave Ukraine, for now.
The Indian Embassy has further told the students to keep checking its social media handles such as Facebook and Twitter for all the updates.
Around 50 percent of Indian students have already booked tickets for home while the rest of them are trying to book one.
An air ticket from Kyiv to India costs around Rs,25-30,000. Air India is currently operating three special flights. The price of tickets is, however, on the higher side at Rs.60,000 due to which the students are facing difficulties to book one.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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