Students from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh stranded in Italy

VISAKHAPATNAM: Hundreds of Telugu students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are stranded in Italy as the Mediterranean country went into lockdown to tackle the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases. The students are in places such as Padova, Rimini, Modena, Milan — all declared red zones for the virus. With Italy registering 97 deaths on March 9, more government restrictions, especially in travelling and movement, have been placed from Tuesday.

The students are a worried lot given the shortage of masks and restricted entry at supermarkets. From Tuesday, the Italian government has also asked everyone to confine themselves at home while shutting down all public places.

Few Telugu students told TOI that hospitals were reluctant to give ‘fit’ certificates and there was no provision to check those without symptoms, making it even more difficult for them to return. Sources said that Indian embassy authorities too are insisting on fit certificates to be considered for evacuation.


Badarinath Gella from Kodad in Suryapet district of Telangana has just completed his engineering degree from the 931-year-old University of Bologna. Speaking to TOI from Italy, he said, “Over 30 of us are stranded here. It is difficult to get medical fitness certificate here, because we do not have symptoms.”