Centre, Indian Embassy launch helpline numbers for Indian students stranded in Ukraine

NEW DELHI: The central government has launched a 24-hour control room in Delhi to help Indian students stranded in Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The helpline numbers are 1800118797 (toll free), +911123012113, +911123914104, and +911123017905. The ministry of external affairs has also extended support through email. Indian nationals can seek assistance through the email ID situationroom@mea.gov.in.

Similarly, the Indian Embassy at Kyiv has also provided helpline numbers in an advisory it released on February 24. The helpline numbers are +380997300483, +380997300428, +380933980327, +380635917881, +380935046170. Indian students stranded in Ukraine can also seek help through email from the Indian Embassy at cons1.kyiv@mea.gov.in.

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The embassy said that the special flight schedule has been cancelled due to the closing of the Ukrainian airspace due to the Russian military action. It advised the Indian nationals including students to keep checking the embassy website and social media accounts for updates.

In another advisory released by the Indian Embassy, it asked Indians to search for a list of bomb shelters on Google maps since many places are under bomb warnings. The embassy is in touch with various establishments to facilitate shelter for Indian nationals who are stranded without a place to stay.

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The central government has said that Indian passengers from Ukraine can return through Qatar. The civilian flights may restart from Ukraine only when its airspace opens. As per a PTI report, there are around 20,000 Indians stranded in Ukraine, among which most are students. But facilitating travel from Ukraine to Qatar has challenges as the Ukrainian airspace is closed.