Kharkiv: Amid heavy shelling of Russian forces at Ukraine’s Kharkiv, an Indian student has been killed, the Ministry of External Affairs informed today. The student has been identified as Naveen SG, hailing from Karnataka.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that it was in touch with the student’s family. “With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
He further said, “Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones. Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.”
The news came an hour after the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked the Indian Nationals to urgently leave Kyiv. “Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals including students are advised to leave Kyiv urgently today. Preferably by available trains or through any other means available (sic),” a statement from the embassy read.
According to reports citing the hostel mate of Naveen, he had stepped out of the shelter they were staying in to bring some supplies for other Indian students. He was standing in a queue in front of a grocery shop when he was hit amid the Russian shelling. A fourth-year MBBS student, Naveen was studying at Kharkiv Medical University.
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters the sixth day, thousands of Indian students stranded in the war-struck country are making desperate appeals for evacuation. A massive mission of bringing back the stranded Indians from war-torn Ukraine has been undertaken by the Indian government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Indian Air Force to assist in the evacuation process of Indians from war-torn Ukraine, sources told NDTV.
As a part of Operation Ganga, the Indian Air Force is expected to deploy several C-17 aircraft. Today a flight carrying 182 Indians landed in Mumbai. The flight flew out of Romanian capital Bucharest, as Ukraine had closed its airspace.
Two more evacuation flights are expected to bring back stranded Indians today – one from Bucharest and one from Hungary’s capital Budapest.
Kharkiv, near the Russian border, saw frequent explosions in one of its residential areas, according to a report by AP. The administration headquarters in the city also came under Russian shelling.
Reacting to the death news of the Indian student, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “This is an awful tragedy. My heart goes out to the family of the victim and the anxious families of all those still stuck in Ukraine. We must do everything possible to get them home.”
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has also called Naveen’s family and expressed his condolences. He assured them that the government will do everything possible to bring his body back. According to latest reports, PM Modi dialled Naveen’s parents and spoke with them.
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