From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 26: The Kannadiga students from Ukraine, who have been airlifted and brought to Mumbai of Delhi, will be helped by the State Government to reach Bengaluru and their native places, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday.

Speaking to media representatives in Vidhana Soudha, he said the Commissioner in Delhi’s Karnataka Bhavan has been directed to make arrangements for transport and accommodation to all the students from Karnataka, who have returned.

The Chief Minister said the State Government has already furnished a list of all students from the State caught in the war-torn Ukraine after his discussion with the Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to bring them home safely.

Those stranded in the Western parts of Ukraine are being brought by road as per the communication from Jaishankar. Accordingly, students are returning via Romania and other neighbouring countries and details of such students are being collected, Bommai said.

However, most of the students are in Kharakai, which is in the north-eastern parts of Ukraine. These students have been directed to take shelter in safe locations and avoid unnecessary as well as risky road travels, he said.

Bommai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to make arrangements for safe transit of Indians caught in the war. Russia has already agreed. The repatriation of the people will begin as soon as the war situation comes under control.

“All arrangements are being made to bring students from Karnataka either by road or by air within the next few days,’’ the Chief Minister said.

He said that he has spoken to some of the students and telephone numbers of the officials to be contacted for their safe transit have already been provided.

Bommai said people in Ukraine were under great difficulties as they do not have proper food and shelter. Most of the people are taking shelter in the bunkers of Metro stations and consequently crowding and other problems were common, he said.

The Indian Embassy in Russia and officials conversant in Russian language have been offering all assistance and coordinating with Russian officials to help the Indians caught in the war strife, he added.