'There has been no help that has come from the Indian embassy till date. We have no idea when we all will be evacuated.'
Exhausted but elated, around 600 Indian students, who waged a tough battle for survival before being pulled out of war-battered Ukrainian city of Sumy, are now on way to Poland on a train from where they will be flown back home likely on Thursday.
Tears of joy rolled out of the eyes of parents and family members, some of whom distributed sweets and garlanded their children while others welcomed them with bouquets and hugs after their arrival at gate number 4 and 5 of the Indira Gandhi International airport.
'It was a terrible experience to survive the war for 13 days'
The ministry of external affairs urged Indian students to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
There is no power, no water supply and shops are refusing to accept cards, even though ATMs have run out of cash, said the Sumy State University student.
India on Saturday 'strongly pressed' the Russian and Ukrainian governments through multiple channels for an immediate ceasefire in Sumy to ensure a safe passage for around 700 Indian students stuck there as it keeps focus on their evacuation from the war-hit city in eastern Ukraine.
'While I would never wish for anyone to go through what we are, it has brought out the best in us by making each one of us a better version of ourselves.' 'Being courageous, fighting for freedom, taking the burden of responsibility to help each other...' 'I know hundreds and hundreds of examples where Ukrainians are risking their lives for complete strangers and it is only in moments like this that we truly understand what it means to be human.'
"We have also assisted nationals from other countries, who approached us, in their return to their respective countries. And we will remain open to doing so in the coming days."
'We request the Indian government that they send some buses urgently so that we can travel in groups and reach safety.'
Ukrainian medical universities have allowed their foreign students to gain practical training at hospitals and clinics in their own countries, giving relief to thousands of Indian students who have fled the war-hit nation.
'Air raid alert in Kyiv. Residents should go to the nearest shelter,' tweeted The Kyiv Independent.
With the fight now having been taken to the seizure of nuclear plants, it is one more warning to Europe that this prolonged war could end up with disastrous consequences, observes Rashme Sehgal
Indian students who flew back to India from Ukraine narrate how they survived the horrific times in battle-ravaged Sumy.
More than 17,000 Indians, mostly students, were evacuated from the war-hit Ukraine under the mission.
The students, most of whom are studying in Sumy State Medical University, said they fear for their safety as gunshots can be heard outside.
A video of students stranded in the war-hit Ukrainian city of Sumy holding Indian flags and threatening to take up a journey to the Russian border on foot created an uproar in national and international media, which in turn, prompted the Indian authorities to fast-track their evacuation process.
In his statement on the situation in the war-torn country, he said that 22,500 Indian citizens have returned safely from Ukraine.
Several medical universities, mostly located in western Ukraine, have started online classes from Monday as holding physical classes in Ukraine has become impossible amid continued shelling by Russian forces.
Russia has informed the United Nations Security Council that Russian buses are ready at crossing points to go to the eastern Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Sumy to evacuate Indian students and other foreign nationals who are stranded there, amidst the raging conflict in the East European country.
Students rescued from Ukraine face an uncertain future due to their inability to complete their education and also run the risk of falling into a debt trap as they may find it difficult to repay education loans, Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh said.
The embassy, however, said certain disruptions in Russian banking services, as well as direct flight connectivity to India, have been reported and Indian students may consider returning home if they have concerns over these aspects.
The volunteering students are studying in China, Uzbekistan and Philippines.
'In many cases, I didn't take money because the Indian students had run out of cash.' 'The biggest high was the blessings that these students's parents used to give me on the phone or send messages thanking me on WhatsApp.'
India is primarily focusing on evacuating its nationals from conflict zones in eastern Ukraine including Kharkiv and Sumy, and that the total number of Indians still stuck in the battle-scarred nation is roughly in the range of 2,000 to 3,000.
Desi beauty blogger Sumi tells P Rajendran how she manages write about beauty and to study clinical psychology at the same time.
The two leaders discussed the safe evacuation of Indian nationals from the conflict areas.
'I request the embassy to evacuate me from here, provide me facilities like a wheelchair, help me with documentation'
Ajit Mishra, vice president, research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
Political stability and a couple of big projects are pluses, but focus on medium and small industries is still missing.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
Ajit Mishra, vice president, Research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.
Promoter holding in family-owned firms up 70 bps since 2005, 240 bps since 2010.
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