28 February,2022 10:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Mehul Jethva
Smith Patel with other India students at the Poland border check post
As the situation worsened in war-gripped Ukraine and the Indian government asked students to reach the borders for evacuation, many walked around 40 km to the Poland check post. Speaking to mid-day over the phone, Smith Patel, a student, said he now hopes that the Indian government will help them fly back home.
Russia started the invasion of Ukraine early Thursday morning, while everyone was in deep sleep. Scared Indian students of medical colleges contacted the Indian embassy for help and were told to reach the Poland border, which is about 43 km away. Due to lack of transportation, the students, carrying their heavy luggage, decided to walk as they wanted to be safe as soon as possible.
They reached the Poland border by late Saturday night. Smith, 23, a resident of Bhavnagar city of Gujarat, said, "The Indian embassy told us to reach the Poland border, but there was no vehicle for us until 3 km before the border, at a check post. We walked around 40 km to the check post, where we were informed that Indians and Nigerians were not allowed to cross the border to Poland. We contacted the Indian embassy and got help. There were more than 1,000 immigration lines."
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"I haven't slept for the past few days, and we had also run out of food. The Indian embassy provided us with bread butter on Sunday night. Our mobile phone's battery is also, as no charging facility is available here. We are saving the battery to contact our families," said Patel. We spent a night at the border in minus 15 degree Celsius, Patel said. "We didn't get any help from the Indian government till we reached the Poland border. Flights to India are available from Romania. The Indian embassy told us that they will take us back safely to India. We just hope that the Indian government helps us return home. The government should take the responsibility at this difficult time."
3km
Distance the students covered in a vehicle
