Ukraine crisis: Rescue appeal by students stuck near Russia border

JAIPUR: Around 700 Indian students who are stuck in Sumy, Ukraine, have been seeking help from the Centre to evacuate them. Being close to the Russian border, around 50km away, the students stuck in Sumy have not been able to leave and are waiting for guidelines from the government.
While students from Kyiv and Kharkiv have been evacuated, Sumy continues to witness heavy shelling.
Kamlesh Kumar Khichar, a student from Churu district, along with his friends posted a video on social media asking for help form the government. “We are stuck in this city without proper food and water. All roads are barricaded, trains are not running and Metro stations are closed. We have no possible way to travel anywhere. Please help us to get out of this city before any missile hits the university campus. Give us some attention as well,” said Kamlesh.
Maheshwari Tertarwal from Churu district said some students got a message on WhatsApp that the Indian government was ready with buses on the Russian side of the border and was in talks with the Ukrainian authorities to give them permission.
Hanumangarh student Lalit Kumar said they were hearing shelling and gunfire all around them. A bomb exploded near their hostel a few days ago. They are now waiting for the government to take some step. Ration and food are out of stock and students are surviving on biscuits. Due to continuous bombarding in Sumy city, students and university members are not able to go out. Majority of them are holed up inside the dark bunkers with little light and waiting for a miracle to happen.