LUCKNOW: It was 5 in the morning when a deafening explosion woke up 21-year-old MBBS student Shreya Singh living in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine with her two friends.
The sudden thunder panicked the girls, who rushed to the balcony to find thick smog of explosion covering the skyline.
Before they could understand anything, sounds of aircrafts flying really close made it clear that Russia had attacked Ukraine and their city was no more safe.
Talking to TOI, Shreya, an MBBS fourth-year student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University said, “Since we had no stock of eatables, we walked to a nearby shop amid explosions. They, however, were either closed or out of stock. While locals, who had their own vehicle, got things for themselves, we Indian students had to walk miles to hunt for groceries.”
Shreya, who hails from Agra, said there are over 200 MBBS students from Uttar Pradesh in her University, while several others are from other states.
“All Indian students are at different places, scattered. We are struggling since we don’t have any cash to buy things. ATMs have long queues and it would be unsafe to stand in queue given the volatile situation,” she added.
Shreya claimed all Indian students have booked flights, which cost them Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
“Even my flight to India was booked for Monday but now it stands cancelled. We appeal to the government to evacuate us from here,” she added.
Parents of 22-year-old Barkha (name changed), who is pursuing MBBS from Odesa National Medical University, in Ukraine, are also in panic.
The moment her father got the news about a missile striking a warehouse in Odesa, he slipped into depression worrying about the well-being of his daughter. Her mother Vandana (name changed), who is a health officer, is in constant touch with her daughter and believes the Indian embassy and the government would ensure her safe return.
“My husband has been crying incessantly ever since he came to know about the strike. I have full faith in the embassy and the government and hope they will ensure the safe return of not only my daughter but over 10,000 students stuck with Shristi at her medical University,” said Vandana.
Meanwhile, a number of Indian students are making an appeal for help on social media platforms.
The sudden thunder panicked the girls, who rushed to the balcony to find thick smog of explosion covering the skyline.
Before they could understand anything, sounds of aircrafts flying really close made it clear that Russia had attacked Ukraine and their city was no more safe.
Talking to TOI, Shreya, an MBBS fourth-year student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University said, “Since we had no stock of eatables, we walked to a nearby shop amid explosions. They, however, were either closed or out of stock. While locals, who had their own vehicle, got things for themselves, we Indian students had to walk miles to hunt for groceries.”
Shreya, who hails from Agra, said there are over 200 MBBS students from Uttar Pradesh in her University, while several others are from other states.
“All Indian students are at different places, scattered. We are struggling since we don’t have any cash to buy things. ATMs have long queues and it would be unsafe to stand in queue given the volatile situation,” she added.
Shreya claimed all Indian students have booked flights, which cost them Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
“Even my flight to India was booked for Monday but now it stands cancelled. We appeal to the government to evacuate us from here,” she added.
Parents of 22-year-old Barkha (name changed), who is pursuing MBBS from Odesa National Medical University, in Ukraine, are also in panic.
The moment her father got the news about a missile striking a warehouse in Odesa, he slipped into depression worrying about the well-being of his daughter. Her mother Vandana (name changed), who is a health officer, is in constant touch with her daughter and believes the Indian embassy and the government would ensure her safe return.
“My husband has been crying incessantly ever since he came to know about the strike. I have full faith in the embassy and the government and hope they will ensure the safe return of not only my daughter but over 10,000 students stuck with Shristi at her medical University,” said Vandana.
Meanwhile, a number of Indian students are making an appeal for help on social media platforms.