Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Indian students await evacuation amid shortage of food

Indian students await evacuation amid shortage of food

MORE THAN 600 Indian students are stranded in a university in Sumy, a city in north-eastern Ukraine, hoping they will soon be evacuated as firing and bombing left them “terrified”.

Not a single Indian student from Sumy State University, located close to the Russian border has been evacuated so far, Viraj Walde, who hails from Nagpur in Maharashtra, said over the phone on Wednesday (2).


"More than 600 Indian students are stuck here in Sumy university. The embassy has neither evacuated us nor given any assurance. For the last five days, there has been continuous firing, shelling and bombing in the city," he said.

Their final exams were about to start on March 15, he said.

"Before Russia invaded Ukraine, temporary advisories were given to the students and the university informed us that those having exams can wait. Hence, we waited for the exams to start," Walde added.

"But now, the students are terrified and their mental state is deteriorating. Food and drinking water supplies are depleting. Even the banks and ATMs are running out of cash," he said.

The embassy has sent advisories to students, telling them to use only the western border of Ukraine and reach the neighbouring countries of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova. As Sumy is located in the north-eastern part of Ukraine, it is impossible for them to travel all the way to the western part in the prevailing situation, he said.

"The border in Ukraine's western part is located almost 1,500 km away from Sumy, whereas the Russian border is just 50 km away. The railway station in Sumy has also been closed due to bombing, and travelling via road is like committing suicide since Russian and Ukrainian forces are fighting against each other at such places," he added.

The military administration has told the students not to venture out because there is artillery shelling in the city, he said.

"On behalf of all the students stuck in Sumy, I request the Indian government to evacuate us before anything unfortunate happens to us," he said.

In the first Indian casualty in the war in Ukraine, a medical student from Karnataka's Haveri district was killed in intense shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Tuesday (1).

‘6,000 Indians brought back’

India said 6,000 Indians stranded in Ukraine have been brought back and efforts are underway for the safe return of the remaining ones.

Union minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan said in Pune on Wednesday (2) that there were around 20,000 Indian nationals including students stranded in the war-torn country.

“Of them, 4,000 were brought back to India before February 24. Additional 2,000 students were brought back to India till Tuesday (1) and efforts are on to evacuate the remaining Indians stuck there," he said.

With the help of Ukraine's neighbouring countries Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, the students are being evacuated to India in defence aircraft, he said.

The government has initiated 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine.

(PTI)

More For You

UK braces for second heatwave

The UK has started the week with a noticeable drop in temperatures after the recent spell of hot weather

iStock

UK braces for second heatwave as temperatures climb midweek

Key points

  • UK sees a cooler start to the week after recent heatwave
  • Temperatures forecast to rise again by Wednesday in parts of England
  • Midlands, eastern and southeastern England could see highs of 30°C
  • Overnight humidity may lead to heavy, thundery showers midweek
  • Glastonbury and Wimbledon expected to enjoy mostly dry, warm weather

Warm spell returns after short-lived fresher weather

The UK has started the week with a noticeable drop in temperatures after the recent spell of hot weather. However, this break from the heat is expected to be brief, with forecasters predicting a second rise in temperatures for parts of England by midweek.

A south-westerly airflow replacing the recent westerlies will begin drawing warmer air back into the country. This shift means areas in central and southeastern England could again see temperatures reaching the high twenties by Wednesday, bringing the possibility of a second UK heatwave, especially across eastern regions.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air-India-crash-victims

Mourners carry the coffins of victims who died in the Air India Flight 171 crash, for funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 21, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Air India crash: All but one of 260 victims identified

AUTHORITIES in Gujarat said on Tuesday they had identified 259 out of the 260 victims recovered after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad earlier this month.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was heading to London’s Gatwick Airport when it crashed shortly after take-off on June 12.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iran Israel conflict

Emergency personnel work at an impacted residential site, following a missile attack from Iran on Israel, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, in Be'er Sheva, Israel June 24, 2025.

Reuters

Israel orders strikes on Tehran after Iran missile attack amid ceasefire

ISRAELI defence minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday he had instructed the military to strike targets in Tehran after Iran fired missiles, violating a ceasefire that had come into effect following 12 days of war.

"In light of Iran’s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by the President of the United States — through the launch of missiles toward Israel — and in accordance with the Israeli government's policy to respond forcefully to any breach, I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)... to continue high-intensity operations targeting regime assets and terror infrastructure in Tehran," Katz said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Qurbani Support: Islamic Relief UK Aids Families in Newham

This year’s Qurbani campaign by Islamic Relief UK spans across the country

Islamic Relief UK

Islamic Relief UK and Newham Community Project deliver Qurbani food packs to vulnerable families

Islamic Relief UK partnered with Newham Community Project this Qurbani to distribute food parcels to vulnerable individuals and families affected by the rising cost-of-living crisis in the London Borough of Newham and surrounding areas.

On 20 June 2025, the organisations delivered 300 food packs to support local households, including refugees, migrants, vulnerable women, and people with no access to public funds. The initiative took place during Dhul Hijjah, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims around the world donate Qurbani — the religious tradition of sacrificing meat and sharing it with those in need.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government launches urgent national maternity care probe

Black women nearly three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women, while Asian mothers face double the risk. (Photo for representation: iStock)

Government launches urgent national maternity care probe

HEALTH SECRETARY Wes Streeting has ordered an immediate nationwide probe into England's maternity services following a string of NHS scandals that have cost the lives of hundreds of mothers and babies.

The fast-track investigation will focus on the country's poorest-performing maternity and baby care units, with findings expected by December 2025, the BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less