SHILLONG, March 5: A majority of the students from Meghalaya have safely reached the state from war-torn Ukraine due to coordinated efforts of the administration, state government and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Earlier, the state government had asked the deputy commissioners and the superintendents of police to reach out to the parents of the students.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Malthus Sangma said the district administration sends its magistrates to meet the parents and collect the details of students stranded.
“We then send the details to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the CMO, accordingly, takes up the case of every student with the MEA for his or her safe return,” Sangma said.
When a student from Ukraine arrives in Meghalaya, a magistrate visits the house for verification. Subsequently, the details are shared with the Prime Minister’s Office.
“We are doing everything possible to ensure that each and every student returns home safely,” Sangma said.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma had tweeted on Friday: “Out of 43 students, 33 have safely reached India including 4 students having arrived today (yesterday); 4 more are en route to Delhi; 1 en route to Ukrainian borders and 5 currently in Budapest will be flown back to India soon.”
The students, who managed to get out of Ukraine and reached Meghalaya, heaved a sigh of relief. Some said they were terrified when Russia invaded Ukraine.
One of them, Ishika Debnath who is from Laitumkhrah, said she had boarded a bus from her university and reached Ukraine’s border with Romania on February 24.
“We got off the bus and walked for around 4-5 km before crossing the border. Later, we were escorted to the airport,” Ishika said.
She said she was relieved when she had found her name on the second Indian Embassy list of 240 students who would be evacuated.