Hundreds Of Indian Students Are Still Stuck In Sumy, Some Forced To Get Off Bus Due To Firing

The wait of Indian students in Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, to get a safe passage out of the country amid the ongoing war seems to be dragging on.

While the evacuation of Indian nationals from most other cities including the capital Kyiv is complete or is nearing completion, the nearly 700 medical students at Sumy State University have not been lucky so far.

Due to the city's proximity towards Russia, the evacuation of the students is only possible through the country that is currently invading Ukraine.

Screengrab

India raised issue at UN

India on Monday raised the issue at the UN Security Council meeting and said that the safe corridor promised by both the countries for the stranded students in Sumy did not materialise.

¡°India has been consistent in calling for an immediate end to all hostilities,¡± India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said.

He said India has reiterated its urgent demand for safe and uninterrupted passage for all innocent civilians, including Indian nationals remaining in Ukraine.

AFP

¡°We are deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings to both sides, the safe corridor for our students stranded in Sumy did not materialize,¡± Tirumurti said.

This comes as the please for evacuation from Sumy is getting louder and desperate with each passing hour and day.

"Running out of food, water"

The students stranded there say that they are running out of food and water. Many were also forced to melt snow to drink.

They also said that the power outages and disruption in communication lines they are being cut off.

Screengrab

On Monday, some efforts were made to evacuate the stranded students, but it had to be called off due to security reasons.

Some students had even boarded a bus, but were soon asked to get off after the ceasefire agreement was violated.

On Tuesday, the Russian Embassy in India said that Moscow has declared a cease-fire from 10:00 a.m. (Moscow time) and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors.

According to the embassy statement, there will be two humanitarian corridors from Sumy to Poltava and to the territory of the Russian Federation to Belgorod.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia had told the UN Security Council last week that Ukraine nationals are keeping over 3700 Indian citizens ¡°by force¡± in Kharkiv and Sumy and buses from Russia are ready and waiting at crossing points to go to these Ukrainian cities to evacuate Indian students and other foreign nationals.

Photo shared by students

Both India and Ukraine had rejected this claim.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed the matter with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian's Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Modi conveyed his "deep concern" over the safety and security of the students and, during the 50-minute telephonic conversation, suggested direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy may "greatly assist" the ongoing peace efforts.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.