New Delhi, March 1: Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, an Indian student died in shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Tuesday, the country’s second-largest city that is being pounded by heavy shelling by Russian forces. The victim has been identified as Naveen Shekharappa. It is learnt that he was standing outside a grocery store when he was hit by shelling.
Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi shared the information and expressed condolences to the 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," he wrote in the tweet.
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"We have already taken up the matter with the Russian and Ukrainian embassies the pressing requirement of safe passage for Indian nationals, including students, from Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones," he said.
News of the student’s death came within hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine asking its citizens to urgently leave capital 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.
It is learnt that from Indian side, preparations for evacuation have been in place for sometime now. An Indian team has been positioned in Russian city of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border. However, the conflict situation in and around Kharkiv and nearby cities has been an obstacle.
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Notably, over 9,000 Indian nationals have been brought out of Ukraine while a considerable number are reported to be in safer areas "We will continue to make utmost efforts to ensure the return our citizens stranded in Ukraine," said government sources.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a high-level meeting on Monday evening over the Ukraine crisis said that the entire government machinery was working round the clock to ensure that all Indians there are safe and secure. This was the second high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister during the day over the prevailing situation in Ukraine.
Government sources on Monday said that the 'Special Envoys' including Union Ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and Gen (Retd) VK Singh will travel to neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate evacuations of stranded Indians amid ongoing Russian military operations.
On February 24, the Prime Minister chaired a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting in New Delhi on the Ukraine crisis. The Union Government has launched "Operation Ganga" to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine.
-PTC News
