Some Indian students in Ukraine 'untraceable', say peers who returned home

Some Indian students in Ukraine were 'untraceable', said their peers who returned home. Many students were traced after photos and phone numbers were circulated in several WhatsApp and Telegram accounts, but not everyone. Several family members reached out to volunteer groups after failing to hear from their children even after they had crossed over to Poland.

Many parents complained that the children were not provided food at locations where the Government of India had set up camps. For example, hundreds of students who walked from Kharkiv railway station were put in Pesochin hospital. They were given an apple to be shared between two students. Some students in Pesochin hospital who ET spoke to said that girls got to share an apple, but boys did not get even that.

"My child has not eaten since the last three days. He has been walking for three days without food or water. Yesterday, he walked almost 35km. At least they could have arranged water," said an enraged parent, who did not want to be named.


By afternoon, after several parents called up the embassy in Ukraine, and other helpline numbers, food was arranged for all students. Another parent told ET that he was happy that his daughter at Pesochin was being rescued. "I have just been told that students were put in buses and would be taken to Lviv."

A group of over 700 students were stuck in hostels in Sumy Oblast, in northeastern Ukraine. Rescuers said they faced food and water shortage and have not eaten in the last two days. Efforts were on to rescue them. One missing young girl was traced after social media posts. She was travelling with her classmate from Kharkiv station.