New Delhi/Kyiv, Mar 6 (Agency) Water has been provided to the Indian students stranded in Sumy and efforts are being made for their early evacuation in coordination with the Red Cross, said Puneet Singh Chandhok, president Indian World Forum. Chandhok, who has played an active role in the evacuation of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan post the Taliban takeover, said he has spoken with Maksym Dotsenko, the Director General of Red Cross Ukraine, and also with Ihor Shapoval, who heads the Sumy chapter of Red Cross, with regard to the Indian students there. He said in tweets that Ihor Shapoval visited the Indians there, and water is being provided to them. He said that efforts are being made to evacuate the Indian students.
“Spoken to Maksym Dotsenko Director General @RedCrossUkraine & Ihor Shapoval #RedCross on ground in #Sumy. “Today they visited #IndianStudents there and coordinating with the university officials. “Water is being provided now & efforts are being made by them for their early evacuation. “Just received images of #humanitarian assistance provided today to students from all nationalities on ground in #Sumy by @RedCrossUkraine Ihor Shapoval & his team in coordination with IndianWorldForum. “More aid to follow as the situation eases. #IndiansInUkraine #OperationGanga,” he posted.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday urged the 700 odd Indian students stranded in Sumy not to leave their underground bunkers, and that they were making every effort for their evacuation. While the Indian government has been able to evacuate nearly all the Indians from Kharkiv, the shelling and violence in Sumy was preventing anyone from approaching the area. India also urged for a local ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia to enable them to bring out the Indians from Sumy.