Russia-Ukraine war: Here's what Indian states are doing to ensure safe return of students

With several Indian students stranded amid Russia-Ukraine war, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working for ir safe return. Moreover, several Indian states including Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh have also started contributing towards bringing students safely back to India from Ukraine. 

It is also important to mention that India had earlier started evacuation process with an advisory for students to return. On February 22, Tuesday, around 240 Indians had returned to India from Ukraine on Air India's Boeing 787 aircraft. flight AI 1946 took off from Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 6 p.m. (IST) and landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 11.40 p.m.

Kw what Indian states are doing to bring students back:

• Karnataka government has appointed a dal Officer to facilitate safe movement of stranded people from state in Ukraine to ir respective destinations. dal Office is said to coordinate with MEA & Embassy of India, Kyiv, and provide support for evacuation of stranded people from state.
• Uttarakhand’s Principal Secretary (Home) RK Sudhanshu on Thursday directed District Magistrates of all 13 districts to provide complete details of citizens living in country. Following details, state administration will ensure security to those stranded through Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Government of India.
• Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said that many students of Chattisgarh are stranded in Ukraine and that a call centre has been set up in state where about 70 students have reached out so far. He even revealed that state govt is in touch with GoI for safe return of students. 
• Haryana government has set up a 24x7 control room through foreign cooperation department as CM Mahar Lal Khattar assured that his government will work in close coordination with Centre.
• Punjab govt has issued contact number for residents stuck in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar have written to External Affairs Ministry seeking ir intervention to ensure safe return of students who belong to respective states. Andhra Pradesh has assured central government of its full support in repatriating stranded Indians, stated PTI.

Govt of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have established helpline numbers to help migrants and students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who are stranded in Ukraine.

Expressing concerns for state citizens in crisis-hit Ukraine, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has also directed  state officials to work closely with centre.

At same time, Centre has set up a control room that will work to ensure safe homecoming of stranded Indians. Junior External Affairs Minister V Muraleedharan has assured families of those still in Ukraine that re is need to panic.

"MEA is taking steps to bring back about 18,000 Indians including students from Ukraine. As air in Ukraine is closed, alternative arrangements are being made for evacuation of Indian nationals,” he informed reporters.