Around 3,000 students from Gujarat are stranded in the war-hit Ukraine and they are making desperate appeals to the authorities seeking their evacuation. Families and relatives are running to the authorities seeking the safety of their children.
The government has set up an emergency helpline number at the State-level, and the district administrations have set up helplines, where parents have been asked to submit details of their children, their name, university name, residential address, etc.
While the government has not specified the exact number of those stranded, Education Minister Jitu Vaghani said on Thursday that the Centre, as well as the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, were doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the students.
In a government press release, it is mentioned that around 2,500-3,000 students are stranded.
However, according to sources, from south Gujarat alone, there are nearly 1,500 students in Ukraine.
“The number is likely higher. As practically from every district, there are students,” a government official said.
Approach political representatives
Worried parents have been approaching the local political representatives seeking their help after their children sent video messages asking for their evacuation as the situation worsens.
The parents of four students have contacted Vadodara MP Ranjan Bhatt and sought her help. “Four students from Vadodara were supposed to board a flight from Ukraine to Turkey. But the flight got cancelled at the last moment and the airport was sealed. These students were also asked to leave the airport. I have contacted the Ministry of External Affairs and given details about these stranded students,” she said.
Two other students - Bhavesh Vanzara, hailing from Arvalli district, and Harsh Soni, from Rajkot - have sent video messages seeking immediate help.
