Bombing intensifies in Ukraine cities where Indian students are stranded

Students walk towards Pisochyn from Kharkiv city, in Ukraine

Hundreds of Indian students are still stranded in Ukraine, and they are frightened, as Russia has intensified the attacks. While students in Sumy have appealed to the PM for evacuation, those in Kharkiv walked to a ‘comparatively safer Pisochyn'. However, for some, even Pisochyn didn't turn out to be a safe haven.

Over 2,000 Indian students are stuck at various places across Pisochyn in war-hit Ukraine, and over 1,600 of them arrived on foot on Thursday night after the Indian Embassy told them that the city was safe. However, several students alleged that there are no bunkers or underground place to hide from bombings and firings. There's no safe zone in Ukraine anymore, they said.

The students have been given accommodation in old age homes and boarding schools. The Indian Embassy has told them buses will be sent to rescue all the students. They said the Russian forces started bombing Pisochyn on Friday.

A crowded railway station in Kharkiv, Ukraine

A student said, "We were safe in a bunker in Kharkiv city, but we moved to Piscohyn after the Indian Embassy told us it was safe. We walked around 15 km to the city. The embassy said it would send buses, but there were none." Another student said, "Is the embassy really trying to get us all killed? We somehow reached Pisochyn, but bombing has started even here and there are no bunkers or underground places to hide. We can't wait here for long."

Another student said that they have heard 15-20 blasts in the area since Friday morning. "Luckily, no bomb has fallen on our boarding school yet. Most buildings nearby have completely collapsed. The Indian Embassy doesn't have any evacuation plan."

Terrifying walk to Pisochyn

Nimeesha Lumba, a student from New Delhi, said as they were walking towards Pisochyn, "missiles dropped hardly a few metres away from us. We were terrified..." For Lumba, a first-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University, Pisochyn seemed a safer option. "We are yet to cross the international border, but we feel comparatively safer in Pisochyn than we did in Kharkiv city which is being bombed."

In Pisochyn, they have been provided with accommodation, but have no food or drinking water. "We did not get any food last night, but, hopefully, we will get food and drinking water today [Friday]. At least we are safe here," she added. "We got in touch with many contacts, requesting them to arrange transportation, but received no help. Ultimately, we had no other option, but to walk as the Indian government issued the advisory to evacuate Kharkiv before 6 pm yesterday [Thursday]," she said.

‘Tired and hurt'

Most of the students sustained bruises and developed swelling in the feet from the long walk, they said. "Even I am feeling uncomfortable while walking. I got a blister because of the long walk," Lumba said. Many students got cramps in their legs and some complained their heels hurt when they stand up. "It is like a stabbing pain when I stand. But it is fine, at least we are safe now," said a student not wishing to be named. "There is redness in my foot after the walk," said her friend Ujjwal Rohilla

Waiting for govt help

"Many students have fever because of exertion," said Lumba, adding that now they "are waiting for the Government of India to evacuate us as soon as possible." Lumba said most of the students have already left Kharkiv, but "around 250 students are still stranded in bunkers, while others are stuck in a Metro station."

Many students said they were not allowed to take photographs. "All of us were told to keep our phones inside, so we could not make any videos or take photos," said Rohilla. However, many students from Ternopil in Ukraine who struggled to cross over to Romania have arrived in Bucharest. They have appreciated the warm hospitality of people in Romania.

Stuck at airport

Meanwhile, students who managed to reach Romania on their own complained that the volunteers were not allowing them to board flights to India. A group of Indian students had crossed over to Romania four days ago and are staying in a shelter in its capital city of Bucharest. "We still don't know when we will return home. A few of us took a taxi to the airport at our own expense, but we weren't allowed to get on a flight heading to India. Only those brought to the airport by the volunteers are being allowed on the flight," said a student requesting anonymity.

"What should we do now? There is chaos at the airport. The government-appointed volunteers are snatching the mobile phones of students trying to shoot videos or take photographs at the airport," he added. "We have been asked to stay in a waiting lounge at the airport. The volunteers are neglecting us. We want to return home to our family soon."

1,600
No. of students who walked 15 km to Pisochyn