Four students from Ukraine reach state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 07 2022: In all four students from the state who were pursuing medical studies in war-torn Ukraine reached Imphal safe and sound after facing some harrowing time in the eastern European country.

On Saturday one Bishanta Soram of Nagamapal arrived here followed by three others landing at the airport.

The latter trio was received by Union minister of state for external affairs and education Dr RK Ranjan.

The three students who returned from Ukraine are Nikita Nongmaithem of Singjamei, Maibam Lemba of Uripok Sorban Thingel and Takhellambam Omnis of Kakwa.

Welcoming the students, Union minister RK Ranjan assured them to not worry about their academic career as the Union government under the aegis of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started taking up measures to facilitate continuation of studies of students from Ukraine in Indian universities and medical colleges.

Speaking on the sidelines, Dr RK Ranjan shared that after tension rose between Russia and Ukraine, PM Modi directed Union Ministry of External Affairs to find out the number of Indian students present in Ukraine.

A report revealed that there were 19,900 Indians living in Ukraine till January 30.During that period, war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, leading the government to contact their neighbouring four countries and began evacuation of Indians, he added.

The minister also expressed his joy on seeing Manipuris stranded in Ukraine reaching home safely.

Meanwhile, M Lemba shared that he is very happy that to reach Manipur even though the travel back home this time was very precarious.

He also praised the Indian Embassy for safely evacuating them from Ukraine.

There are around 100 Manipuris in Ukraine and all of them have left the country, he informed and commended the gesture of the union minister receiving them at the airport.

According to Bishanta Soram of Nagapamal, who reached here on Saturday, he endured several days without food and sleep but somehow managed to walk for more than 50km to cross into Poland from war torn Ukraine enroute to India.

Bishanta is son of Soram Bijendra Meitei and Hijam Shantarani Devi of Nagapamal Soram Leirak and he is undergoing medical course (first year second semester) at Beneficia National Medical University in Beneficia region of Ukraine.

Sharing his ordeal to The People's Chronicle, Bishanta said he and one his friends from Manipur booked flight ticket after getting report that Russia will begin military operation in Ukraine from February 16 but nothing happened on that day.

While waiting for the flight to India, Russian president Vladimir Putin declared military operation in Ukraine on February 24 and all flights were cancelled.

Apart from this, air space in Ukraine was sealed and sirens were heard signalling beginning of war and we stayed inside bunker.

As per instruction of Ukrainian authority, people in the country have to stay in bunker between 2 am till 7 am.

When returned to university hostel the same morning, senior students of the university directed us to go at train station immediately.

Consequently, many students of the university including me and one of my friends from Manipur went to train station and we hid in subway when sirens were sounded at the train station.

We were told to return to university but around 15 students boarded train without ticket after one Ukranian woman called us and she informed ticket checker of the train that we are all students.

After travelling for six hours, we realised that the city we were crossing was Lviv.

Many foreigners stormed the train at Lviv city train station as it is from here that the routes to Poland and Romania are separated.

We could not purchase any food at the station but stayed at the hostel of a senior student of the university.

On the next morning, some students went towards Romania but we moved towards Poland border.

While heading towards Poland border on a hired taxi, police stopped all forms of vehicles due to huge traffic jam and the taxi driver told us that there was no option but to go on foot.

After walking for around 25km, we reached a place called Turiza and took shelter in a hall at the small town.

We had nothing to eat except water at the town and we had to walk 25km more to reach the Poland border and accordingly we started walking from early morning the next day.

However, we got the news that Poland border was closed for four days and some of our colleagues wanted to return and go towards Romania.

Nevertheless, we decided to wait till opening of the Poland border and accordingly stayed overnight.

There were long queues of people waiting to cross into Poland at this place and Ukrainian police allowed people to cross the border in groups.

After crossing Medica border gate in the night, it took one day to reach immigration office and we took two more days to get immigration clearance to go out of Ukraine.

While lining up in the long queue to cross into Poland amidst cold weather, I lost consciousness briefly but managed to warm up by collecting disposed cloths.

After spending the night, we managed to cross Ukraine immigration check post the next day and reached Poland check post.

After crossing Poland check post the same evening, some Indian volunteers were camping on the Poland side with Indian flag and offered us some food.

After being told that a bus will arrive at 5pm to pick up Indians and accordingly we waited for the bus and then reached a hotel at Rejo city reserved by Indian embassy at 8pm.At about 2am the next day, I tried to leave the hotel but my colleagues stopped me.

When woke up the next morning, I searched for my powerless mobile phone but it was found stolen and hence could not contact my family.

Though there were three flights on the day, I could not board any flight.

Luckily, I managed to get registration when some officials from Indian embassy of the Netherlands arrived at the place.

The flight reached New Delhi at about 7am and then reached Imphal after one day.

About the Russia-Ukraine war, Bishanta said he wants world leaders to intervene and stop the ongoing war as war affects everyone.

Though some Ukranians left the country, civilians have now joined the war to fight Russians and the ongoing war will have severe consequences if it continues.

Bishanta also said that he was happy when he could talk with chief minister N Biren Singh for few seconds while in Ukraine and thanked all those who helped him reach India.

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