Bombing intensifies in Ukraine cities where Indian students are stranded

Hundreds of Indian students are still stranded in Ukraine and they are frightened as Russia has intensified the attacks While students in Sumy have appealed to the PM for evacuation those in Kharkiv walked to a lsquocomparatively safer Pisochynrsquo However for some even Pisochyn didnrsquot turn out to be a safe havenOver 2000 Indian students are stuck at various places across Pisochyn in warhit Ukraine and over 1600 of them arrived on foot on Thursday night after the Indian Embassy told them that the city was safe However several students alleged that there are no bunkers or underground place to hide from bombings and firings Therersquos no safe zone in Ukraine anymore they saidThe students have been given accommodation in old age homes and boarding schools The Indian Embassy has told them buses will be sent to rescue all the students They said the Russian forces started bombing Pisochyn on FridayA crowded railway station in Kharkiv UkraineA student said ldquoWe were safe in a bunker in Kharkiv city but we moved to Piscohyn after the Indian Embassy told us it was safe We walked around 15 km to the city The embassy said it would send buses but there were nonerdquo Another student said ldquoIs the embassy really trying to get us all killed We somehow reached Pisochyn but bombing has started even here and there are no bunkers or underground places to hide We canrsquot wait here for longrdquoAnother student said that they have heard 1520 blasts in the area since Friday morning ldquoLuckily no bomb has fallen on our boarding school yet Most buildings nearby have completely collapsed The Indian Embassy doesnrsquot have any evacuation planrdquoTerrifying walk to PisochynNimeesha Lumba a student from New Delhi said as they were walking towards Pisochyn ldquomissiles dropped hardly a few metres away from us We were terrifiedrdquo For Lumba a firstyear student at Kharkiv National Medical University Pisochyn seemed a safer option ldquoWe are yet to cross the international border but we feel comparatively safer in Pisochyn than we did in Kharkiv city which is being bombedrdquoIn Pisochyn they have been provided with accommodation but have no food or drinking water ldquoWe did not get any food last night but hopefully we will get food and drinking water today Friday At least we are safe hererdquo she added ldquoWe got in touch with many contacts requesting them to arrange transportation but received no help Ultimately we had no other option but to walk as the Indian government issued the advisory to evacuate Kharkiv before 6 pm yesterday Thursdayrdquo she saidlsquoTired and hurtrsquoMost of the students sustained bruises and developed swelling in the feet from the long walk they said ldquoEven I am feeling uncomfortable while walking I got a blister because of the long walkrdquo Lumba said Many students got cramps in their legs and some complained their heels hurt when they stand up ldquoIt is like a stabbing pain when I stand But it is fine at least we are safe nowrdquo said a student not wishing to be named ldquoThere is redness in my foot after the walkrdquo said her friend Ujjwal RohillaWaiting for govt helpldquoMany students have fever because of exertionrdquo said Lumba adding that now they ldquoare waiting for the Government of India to evacuate us as soon as possiblerdquo Lumba said most of the students have already left Kharkiv but ldquoaround 250 students are still stranded in bunkers while others are stuck in a Metro stationrdquoMany students said they were not allowed to take photographs ldquoAll of us were told to keep our phones inside so we could not make any videos or take photosrdquo said Rohilla However many students from Ternopil in Ukraine who struggled to cross over to Romania have arrived in Bucharest They have appreciated the warm hospitality of people in RomaniaStuck at airportMeanwhile students who managed to reach Romania on their own complained that the volunteers were not allowing them to board flights to India A group of Indian students had crossed over to Romania four days ago and are staying in a shelter in its capital city of Bucharest ldquoWe still donrsquot know when we will return home A few of us took a taxi to the airport at our own expense but we werenrsquot allowed to get on a flight heading to India Only those brought to the airport by the volunteers are being allowed on the flightrdquo said a student requesting anonymityldquoWhat should we do now There is chaos at the airport The governmentappointed volunteers are snatching the mobile phones of students trying to shoot videos or take photographs at the airportrdquo he added ldquoWe have been asked to stay in a waiting lounge at the airport The volunteers are neglecting us We want to return home to our family soonrdquo1600No of students who walked 15 km to Pisochyn