Running out of food & money, Indian students queue up outside Embassy in Kiev

New Delhi/Kiev, Feb 24 (IANS) Amidst the prevailing tension, the Indian students stranded in Ukraine are left with no choice but to queue up outside the Indian Embassy in Kiev seeking the authorities' help as they ran out of food and money.

The Russian military actions in Ukraine have triggered panic among all sections, including students from India.

Speaking to IANS, a student said, "We urged the embassy officials in Kiev to allow us to sit inside as the temperature outside is two degrees Celsius and the students are standing since morning, but the authorities advised us to find hotels."

Stranded students also sent a video from outside the embassy in which some officials are seen explaining the situation to the students.

Divyanshu Gehlot, president of the Indian student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, said, "The situation here is really bad. Bombs are exploding in every 15 minutes since morning. We plead with folded hands to the Indian Embassy and Government of India to get us out of here. We ran out of food and there is no money in ATM."

Apart from Divyanshu, there are many other Indian students who are constantly seeking help from the government.

The Indian Embassy has issued advisory for students and citizens living in Ukraine urging them not to move out and stay wherever they are. The embassy has also asked the students and citizens in Kiev to stay in touch with the embassy via its official social media handles.

"As you are aware, Ukraine is under martial law, which has made movement difficult. For those students who are stranded without a place of stay in Kyiv, Mission is in touch with establishments to put them up. We are aware that certain places are hearing air sirens/bomb warnings. In case you are faced with such a situation, google map has a list of nearby bomb shelters, many of which are located in underground metros," reads the advisory issued to Indian nationals and students in Ukraine.

"While Mission is identifying possible solution to the situation, please be aware of your surroundings, be safe, do not leave your homes unless necessary and carry your documents with you at all times," it added.

"After waking up in the morning, we first collected water and food items. We used to bring food and other articles for a week. But now nothing is available here. We ran out of flour, rice and cooking oil. That's why we brought bread and milk. There are long queues outside ATMs and banks. Residents of Ukraine are going to Poland but how do we go? Everyone is terrified," Ritika Nigam, who lives in the city of Ternopil in Ukraine, told IANS.

Earlier, an Air India plane which was sent to bring back students from Kiev, had to return because of missile attacks.

Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have said that the government is reviewing options to evacuate Indians and students via the neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, Moldova and Romania but before taking any final decision, the government is evaluating all possible actions.