6 Medical students return home from Ukraine
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 07 2022: At least six students of the State who were studying Medical courses in Ukraine have returned home.

Out of them, three landed at Imphal International Airport today and they were received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr RK Ranjan.

Nikita Nongmaithem of Singjamei, Maibam Lemba of Uripok Sorbon Thingel and Takhellambam Omnis of Kakwa landed at the airport at 9.20 am.

The three were among Indian students who were evacuated from the war ravaged country under the Government of India's Operation Ganga.

They reached New Delhi from Poland on March 5 .

At Imphal International Airport, the three medical students gave a brief account of their experience in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country.

6 Medical students return home from Ukraine

They said that at one point of time they had lost all hope of ever reaching Manipur.

Nikita said that she used to run from her hostel to the bunker of the institute and hide there every time siren was sounded. Dr Ranjan said that around 16,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine so far.

Even though around 19,900 other Indians have registered for evacuation, some Manipuri students are still unable to register themselves as mobile signal is unavailable at those places where they are currently taking shelter, Dr Ranjan said.

The Government of India has been talking with some neighbouring countries of Ukraine through diplomatic channels to allow enrolment of Indian students fleeing from Ukraine in their educational institutions.

Moreover, the Central Government has initiated necessary steps to enhance the existing seats of different institutions so that students who are coming back from Ukraine can be accommodated, he said.

Of the large number of students fleeing Ukraine to the neighbouring countries, some were compelled to walk for 25 Kms without food and water in the face of extreme climatic conditions, Dr Ranjan added.

The students who reached Imphal today conveyed their gratitude to the Indian Embassy and the Government of India for working relentlessly to evacuate them.

They said that there were around 1000 Manipuris in Ukraine but most of them had left the country since the war started.

Meanwhile, sources informed that many Manipuri students who were studying in Ukraine reached India yesterday and three of them reached Imphal today.