Visuals of Indian students in bunkers disturbing: Rahul Gandhi on Ukraine

A video appeal by two students from Bengaluru stuck in Ukraine seeking help to get out of the war-hit country on Saturday prompted top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to urge the government to execute “urgent evacuation, saying the visuals from the bunker were “disturbing”.

Meghna and her friend Daksha shot the short video from a bunker they were staying in, urging the Indian authorities to take steps to evacuate them.

“Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to the Government of India to execute urgent evacuation,” Rahul tweeted.

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In the video, which Rahul shared on Twitter, Meghna said there are a number of students from various parts of India who are in the bunker with little food, water or proper ventilation.

“We need to be rescued. We need help from the Indian government. We cannot see anyone taking steps from any high office or the Indian government. There is no special flight to accommodate us. We are staying in a bunker. It is really hard for us. We request you to please send help as soon as possible,” Meghna said.

Daksha said there are over 15,000 students in Ukraine and the government should take steps to evacuate all of them. "Please help us out. We need help," she said.

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The video also showed a number of people staying in the bunker with practically no light. In the video, Meghna’s younger brother was also seen appealing for her immediate evacuation.

“My sister is stuck in Ukraine. Can you please help her? I want her back,” the brother said.

Gandhi and his party have been urging the government to act swiftly to evacuate all Indians stuck in Ukraine.

The Congress has also criticised the government's response to distress calls from students in that country and accused it of inaction.

With Russian troops advancing on Kyiv and other key cities, India on Saturday asked its nationals stranded in Ukraine to exercise caution at all times and not move towards any border post to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued a fresh advisory for the Indian citizens as the overall ground situation deteriorated further with gunfire, bombings and missile attacks continuing to rock various parts of the country, including its capital Kyiv.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had on Thursday said there were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and nearly 4,000 of them have returned to India in the last few days.

With PTI inputs.

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