Ukraine Crisis: More states set up control rooms, helplines for Indian students stuck in Ukraine

NEW DELHI: In constant efforts to bring back Indian students trapped in Ukraine as Russia announces attack, Indian state governments have set up control rooms, helplines and are ensuring every kind of help for their students and residents. Nearly 2,500 students from Gujarat are stranded in Ukraine amid Russia's military operation, a state minister said on Friday. Talking to reporters, Education Minister Jitu Vaghani said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has been in touch with the Centre to ensure the safe return of the stranded students to the state.

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The West Bengal government on Friday set up a control room to help students and people from the state, who are currently stranded in war-hit Ukraine. A notice issued by the state Information and Cultural Affairs Department said the 12-hour control room will be functional from 9 am.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced that the state government will bear all the expenses related to the return of students from the state stranded in Ukraine.

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The Telangana government has set up helplines at the Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi and the state secretariat here to help migrants and students from the state who are stranded in Ukraine.

Ministers urge PM Modi, MEA for help

Maharashtra minister Uday Samant has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to make arrangements for the safe return of 1,200 students from the state, who are currently studying in Ukraine, against which Russia has launched a military operation.

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Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said that nearly 2,000 people from Haryana, mostly students, were stuck in Ukraine and he was in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs on this issue. Khattar also said the MEA had already set up a control room, while in Chandigarh, a control room has been set up by the state government where people from Haryana can contact on WhatsApp number 92123-14595.

At least 10 students from Meghalaya are stranded in Ukraine and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma joined his counterparts in other states to seek the intervention by the ministry of external affairs to ensure safe return of all those stuck there following a military confrontation with Russia.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday urged the Centre to help students and workers from the state, who were stuck in Ukraine following Russia's attack on that country, return home.

Meanwhile, as many as 46 students from Madhya Pradesh who have been registered with the Chief Minister's helpline were safe in Ukraine as of Thursday evening, a senior official said here. The total number of students from Madhya Pradesh who are stranded in Ukraine, though, could be higher.

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On Thursday, in a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sensitised the Russian President about India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian citizens in Ukraine, especially students, and conveyed that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return.

(with inputs from PTI)