Ukraine: ‘No help’ for those on eastern side

Jalandhar, February 28

With students from western Ukraine make a beeline for the border amid fresh advisories by the Indian Government, those stranded in bunkers at Kharkiv, in the northeastern part of the country, are on the edge amid intensified shelling.

Arrange transport

Focus is on relatively peaceful western part. Someone needs to arrange transport for students stuck in the east witnessing intense fighting. Pardeep Aggarwal, Navi’s father

As a large number of students from Punjab remain stuck in the town amid dwindling food and other essential supplies, worried parents are making frantic calls to the Indian Embassy and NGOs there. Videos of Indians being assaulted or denied access to trains are adding to the fears of students over whether to venture out or not.

Parents back home are having a hard time convincing daughters to stay put in bunkers. Pardeep Aggarwal’s daughter Navi, niece Saphia and friend’s daughter Ridhi Aggarwal are stranded in bunkers at Kharkiv. “Intense shelling is going on. They are surviving on meagre food. There are videos of Indians being prevented from boarding trains. My daughter wants to take a train but I’m having a hard time convincing her not to step out,” Pardeep said. —