New Delhi: All the Indian students stranded in the battle-hit city of Sumy in Unkraine have been evacuated. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Tuesday that 694 stranded students in Sumy have left for Poltava in buses.
“Last night (Monday), I checked with the control room, 694 Indian students were remaining in Sumy. Today (Tuesday), they have all left in buses for Poltava,” Puri told reporters here.
Sumy is located near the Russian border. It is around 350 km east of Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The city has been the scene of heavy fighting for days. At least nine people, including two children, died in an air strike in the city Tuesday.
The Indian students have been waiting for evacuation for days. Unable to cope with the bitter cold, depleting food and water supplies, the students shared videos Saturday. They said they have decided to take a risky journey to the Russian border 50km away. However, they were prevented from the government from doing so. The government contacted them and asked them not to take unnecessary risks.
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A plan to evacuate them yesterday fell through as Ukraine rejected a Russian plan for a humanitarian corridor to Russia and Belarus. Sources also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally talked to the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, urging them to provide safe evacuation for the Indian students.
Finally, Puri confirmed Tuesday that the students have quit the city and are en route to Poltava.