By Suresh Unnithan
Thiruvananthapuram: “We are shuddered by the sudden outbreak of war. Just a day before the conflict started, we had expressed our apprehension to the Dean of our University on the media reports regarding the buildup from Russia but he simply dismissed the possibility of any arms conflict. As speculated by the Western Media, the deadly war started on 24th morning and we are in total panic. Today is the fourth day of the deadly attack. Fighter planes are hovering over our building. Deafening sounds of bomb explosion threaten us. Scary news reports about the missile attack from Russian Navy deployed at the Black Sea further heightens our anxiety. We are left unprotected, unattended, both by the University and the Administration. Even the India Mission in Ukraine is inattentive to our hostile situation,” Amitha Rejani Prasad, a fifth year medical students of the Odessa National University in Ukraine explains on the traumatic state she pushed into.
Amitha from Kollam, Kerala is one among the 600 plus Indian students stranded in Odessa a south-west city in Ukraine under siege. Talking from her apartment in Odessa she talked to PNINEWS in a trembling voice, “we don’t know how to find an escape route amidst the intensifying war. We are trapped, thanks to the obstinacy of the University. Despite our repeated requests to allow us to fly out of Ukraine, the Dean of the university not only prevented us from leaving the state, but constantly scared us saying we will be expelled from the university if left Ukraine.” To authenticate her charge against the University she shared the daunting whatsapp message from the Dean.
As per a list Amitha shared with PNI News, over 232 medical students from Kerala are “left high and dry” in Odessa. “We are totally shattered. No sign of help from any quarters. When we failed to elicit help from the University, we approached the Indian consulate. To our utter dismay, the Indian authorities also advised us to fend ourselves.” In a conversation between her and an official Indian consulate, the official was trying to put the “blame” on Government of India for their inaction saying that they can only act as per the instruction of New Delhi. In the recorded conversation Amitha is heard requesting for help for organizing their transportation from Odessa to “Moldova boarder which is 40 to 50 km from here. The preferred boarder is of Romania which is 10-12 hours of travel from here and it is very dangerous (to travel such a long distance) in this (war) situation).” To her request the reply from the Indian authority is “well we are not supposed to talk about this…….. If anything happens from New Delhi we can convey you….as of now there is no possibility….” When she asked “ will the (Indian) Embassy arrange transportation of the stranded students” the officer is heard saying “as of now there is no possibility of arranging transport, because everything is stopped….in this situation nothing can be done, …the advisory is wherever you are you just wait and be safe.”
Amitha who has been taking initiative to interact with different authorities says “while the Indian authorities in Ukraine are waiting directions from New Delhi to rescue their citizens Israel, US, European and even African countries have evacuated their citizens from Ukraine amidst the ongoing war. We wonder why Indian authorities are reluctant to rescue us. It seems, we are left to our fate.”
The student from Kerala, out of panic, approached a member of Member of Parliament from the state. “He (the MP) wanted a list of stranded students and we sent the same to him three days back, but no response from him till now.”
“Our situation is going from bad to worse. We are facing scarcity of food, for the local shops are either closed or they don’t have stock. Those moved to the bunkers are in utter dismay. They (the students in the bunkers) don’t have facility for even natures call.”
Many wonder why “ the junior central minister (from Kerala) who instantly respond on any political issues does not bother to make even a public statement or do anything tangible to safely ferry the students back home.” A relative of a student blames both the Center and state governments for “ignoring” the safety of the stranded students. “The politicians of all hues are the most selfish lots. They will act only if the situation is beneficial for them. They are not for the people, but for themselves and at the most for their near and dear.”
Those students who ignored the “threats” and flew back home are expressing a sigh of relief. “Safety was our prime concern, so we did not heed to the warning (from the University) and flew back, catching the first flight available,” Says Anakha Santosh from Muthakunnam in Ernakulam who flew back from Odessa on 21st of this month. Anakha is in her fifth year of medical studies in the Odessa Medical University. University.
Expressing her anguish over the University’s neglect of security of the students Anakha says, “The University should have advised us to leave for home when they knew the tension was escalating. Instead, the authorities insisted us to be there compromising our safety. They even threatened to expel us if we left Ukraine even if situation deteriorated. Life is more precious to us, so we ignored the warning and left for home.” However, she is worried of those “still stranded in Ukraine. I regularly call my friends there to get an update on their plight. They are worried of their safety. More than the stranded students, their parents back home are in unexplainable nightmare.”
Castigating the University for their “Irresponsible” Approach on the safety of the students another student who wants to be anonymous said, “due to the pandemic the university was online till 25th of this month. The war started on 24th and the University now wants to go offline. This sounds absurd. Not just that, the University Dean is threatening to terminate us if we don’t stay back while the war is situation is worsening. They have little concern to our life.”
Meanwhile, news from Ukraine are not so encouraging. Russia has intensified its aggression with missile assault. Ukraine force is trying to block the students from ‘fleeing’ the country. Students cross over to neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, Moldova, Belarus, and Hungary are blocked at the respective boarders. The stranded students fighting hostile weather are facing food shortage. They are unable to withdraw money from ATM, so facing problems in paying food bills and transportation costs. According to reports Government of India has dispatched a few aircrafts to ferry back its citizens, “but that is very little. Our immediate priority has to be to evacuate the students in distress. Instead of statements of assurance, the governments should resort to concrete action to rescue the students and others from the war theater. First action then lecture.”
List of students (with passport number) from Kerala Stranded in Odessa is given below:
1 Febin Jacob Kerala P2694261
2 JOLLY VARGHESE JESNA Kerala P1370447
3 VIJAYAN SREEHARI Kerala P1906828
4 MATHEW BERYL Kerala P1162047
5 MATHEW ELDO Kerala M8151639
6 ANJU DAS Kerala P0950868
7 Mr. Shafi shahul Hameed Kerala N8204651
8 Ms. Reny Susan Regi Kerala N0715023
9 Ms. Sneha Susan Biju Kerala S3843282
10 Ms. Martha Honey Joseph Kerala N9940719
11 Ms. Anjitha Aji Kerala P0104169
12 Mr. Riyas Muhammed Kerala P2090147
13 SUPARNA RAJ Kerala P4090978
14 Mr. Sahal Manakal Hanis Kerala N8815015
15 JAYDEEP SREEJAYAN Kerala P2202884
16 Mr. Gokul Krishnan Parambil Thodiyil Kerala P1367554
17 Ms.Madhu Mary Varghese Kerala P2519425
18 Ms. Nimisha Chacko Kerala P1156802
19 Ms. Thahiya Thasleem Vadakketholakkara Sidhik Kerala P3994314
20 Mr. Mohammed Roshan Nisham Kerala P1370651
21 Mr. Andrews Shaji Kerala P2811334
22 Mr. Aravind Kothedathil Ramesan Kerala P4002962
23 Ms. Urmila Elukkaran Raman Kerala M735943
24 Mr. Basheer Valiyakath Moosa Kerala L3750720
25 Roshni Backer Kerala N2705900
26 Ms. Sagarika Jayanand Kerala P1016634
27 APARNA N SASI Kerala P1004794
28 ARCHANA ANAND Kerala P1370641
29 ASWATHY ARAVIND Kerala N0480426
30 RESHMA MINIMOL SUGUNAN Kerala N4254481
31 RIYA ELIZABETH GEORGE Kerala N9876375
32 SWATHY VIJAYAN Kerala P1614273
33 YADUPRIYA SIVAN Kerala P1280629
34 AJUS ANTONY Kerala P2090683
1
35 MOHAMED SIBIL Kerala P0917704
36 MEENA ISMAIL Kerala M7670036
37 HARSHITHA DAS Kerala Z3873584
38 MEENAKSHI CHANDRAN Kerala P0422980
39 RENJITHA G P Kerala P4086433
40 Aakhil Palayamkotte Ibrahim Kerala P4059594
41 Mohammad Faraz Mishal Kerala L6607032
42 GOPIKA SURESH Kerala N2606014
43 SHEFEEDUE K Kerala N3367687
44 SIBIN SAJAN Kerala N8196181
45 MOHAMMED RASHID Kerala V7768347
46 ASHWATHI AJITHKUMAR Kerala P2202919
47 Divya Prabhakaran Kerala P1605471
48 ATHIRA BINOY Kerala P3991294
49 NITHIN FRANCIS Kerala P0422173
50 Samburaj Kerala P0245941
51 arjun chandran Kerala P4005952
52 ROJI ROY Kerala U0236865
53 Jeswin jose kerala M9290583
54 ASIF ALI Kerala R0954614
55 AKSHAY RAJENDRAN Kerala R0525645
56 AKSHAY M Kerala P9856367
57 HASANUL FAIES Kerala M3209534
58 NOUSHAD AKBAR SHAH Kerala R0951982
59 ANJALY VARGHESE Kerala R1473198
60 APARNA VENUGOPAL Kerala R3215732
61 AMITHA R Kerala N8199470
62 NANDU AJITH Kerala N9240674
63 ALBIN JOSE Kerala R0975025
64 SUSBIN JOSEPH Kerala R3306313
65 MOHAMMAD AJAS Kerala R1994233
67 KIRAN KISHORE Kerala Z5393379
68 ASHIK NOORUDEEN Kerala R1995466
69 JACK WALTER Kerala R1994943
70 RICHIE FRANCIS Kerala M4124914
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71 Akhil Bernard Kerala R1467216
72 Allen Benny Kerala P9893844
73 Allen Toms Varghese Kerala M1358136
74 Anand Sanker Pachadikkavil Raghu Kerala R1467537
75 Anikethan Iyar Mulleria Kerala P9894914
76 Avril Patricia Bernard Kerala P4115939
78 Feba Elsa Mathew Kerala L9757398
79 Gautham Prasad Kerala R1472116
80 Justin Pius Kerala P7917830
81 Krishna Veni Rathnakaran Nair Kerala R0350172
82 Lavanya Ambika Kumari Bhasi Kumaran Nair Kerala R1503591
83 Mathews Paulose Kerala R1460547
84 Ozia Varghese Kerala L4536480
85 Preetha Ann Varghese Kerala M5259028
86 Rogy Naduvathettu Thomas Kerala R0952164
87 Shyam Kumar Sunil Kumar Kerala P5413619
88 Sumel Aby Paul Kerala R3306043
89 Siva Priya Jayasankar Kerala P9129084
90 Vandana Jesto Kerala R0533367
91 Vysali Methassery Viswan Kerala P9137309
92 Mohsin Shamshad Siddiqul Akbar Kerala R1132541
93 Abdul Jaleel Ajmalshah Kerala N6710186
94 Maliyekkal Rajendran Sivaprasad Kerala R0448641
95 Kandanamparambil Henry Dazzle Agnel Kerala R0946532
96 Mohandas Mohit Kerala R1996751
97 Chandramangalam Sanalkumar Ananthamurthy Kerala R1998305
98 Mathyari Greeshma Kerala S7715400
99 Kodayirath Sasidharan Malavika Kerala P7570014
100 Sasi Akash Kerala Z3785891
101 Prasobhan Nair Ashirvad Kerala R3091212
102 Ahmed Naufal Kerala R0380829
103 Roshan Jolly Rohith Kerala R1984873
104 Ramachandran Aromal Kerala R0364627
105 Santhosh Kumar Sumam Krishna Moorthy Kerala R3223298
106 Kammara Sivadas Bimal Dev Kerala P0812760
107 Kakkadavath Puthiyapurayil Shahanas Kerala R03895343
108 Menon Gokul Thattat Kerala R0951971
109 WAFA S. FASALUDEEN Kerala R3083093
110 MISHA UTHAMAN Kerala R3089188
111 ANJANA SHAJU Kerala Z4138020
112 LEON ABRAHAM MATHEW Kerala U0369535
113 ABHIRAMI SANTHAKUMAR Kerala P9882510
114 SOORAJ SURESHKUMAR Kerala R3323536
115 athulya kappadan Kerala R0374668
116 ahana fathima Kerala R0396867
117 gayathri gopi Kerala P6556440
118 manjima mg Kerala R3231035
119 allen joy Kerala R3323752
120 DEVIKA RAJ Kerala U0085174
121 AISWARYA RAVINDRAN Kerala R3537204
122 JEEPA JP Kerala R1998959
123 hisham mooppan Kerala R0788952
124 Abdul rahiman kutty Hafees R3512676
125 antony mishal Kerala R4913124
126 Ealias Jerin Kerala S2038196
127 Pooja purushothaman Kerala R0523260
128 abhirami ajay Kerala S2051924
129 Archana thomas Kerala R0964218
130 Aleena varghese Kerala R3522185
131 Millen ann saji Kerala S5002953
132 Arathy sheeja madhu Kerala R9041751
133 Antony thomas Kerala R8048493
134 Abhijith hari nair Kerala S0049884
135 Joel Philip babu Kerala R1445502
136 Arun vijay Kerala V8759283
137 Rahul Ts Kerala P4775101
138 Muhammed Fawas Kerala R5065775
139 Aakhil Hakkim Kerala S2924672
140 meenakshi m nair Kerala P0249929
141 Amala charley Kerala S19006344
142 Arsha ashok Kerala S4196023
143 Anupama M Kerala S2929498
144 Simiya R Kerala S4993729
145 Jennifer Rose Rajesh Kerala P5413689
146 Amitha john Kerala S1901145
147 Nandini arun Kerala R9102764
148 Riswana rahim Kerala S4183099
149 Gopika murali Kerala S4195226
150 Anjaly sajan Kerala S4196673
151 Jaiby Venmmallotte john Kerala R9038046
152 Santra rachel oomen Kerala S2922679
153 Sobha kumar akshay Kerala S3410240
154 Persis mariam koshy Kerala S1902707
155 varghese Hridhya Kerala S5021224
156 Sasmith santhosh Kerala R3530612
157 Rumana Muhammed Kerala N8268027
158 Unaiz bin usman Kerala R5056713
159 Glinda rose vincent Kerala S5024154
160 Abdul sathar sithara Kerala S4178750
161 Ruth mary reji Kerala T5331002
162 Mathews Johnson Kerala S4188224
163 Debin mathews Kerala U0368785
164 Harikrishnan Thekkot Venu Kerala S4192628
165 Mirzad karim Kerala T6481817
166 shajahan mohammed firoz Kerala S4186230
167 Udaya shanan miller Kerala S0839590
168 Victor manoharan dishan Kerala S1890696
169 Victor manoharan dishon Kerala S1891033
170 Tobin koshy Kerala S5118876
171 Pingle miriam noah Kerala S4082848
172 Karumathy Ouseph Richard Kerala S4183868
173 Thomas mariyam kesiya Kerala P0249216
174 Susheelan sreedep krishna Kerala S1899809
175 Santhosh jaysree vineesh Kerala S1188208
176 Gopan sandra Kerala S1889628
177 Pradeep kumar nishandh Kerala S190016355
178 Jayshankar adithya Kerala
179 Sneha mohan Kerala S0850182
180 Vishnu Vijayan Kerala S3124418
181 Amrin rafeek Kerala R0526457
182 Minnu Antony Kerala S4187371
183 Asma r Kerala R6076182
184 Salimsha alifsha Kerala M5742695
185 Mammulayil nazar sufnas Kerala S5001218
186 Goodwin wilson Kerala U0122314
187 Subbaih Dharshana Kerala S3516465
188 Abhirami Rajesh Kerala R6089108
189 Neelima padmanabhan. Kerala S2922181
190 Sreerop sreekumaran Kerala S5159162
191 Aleena George Kerala S5017133
192 Akshaya shaji Kerala S5004572
193 Mohammed ajmal Kerala S6937836
194 Yaseen Kerala L6698196
195 Vikraman pillai Akhil krishna Kerala S5164412
196 Ligitta abraham Kerala R3307309
197 jishnu unni Kerala N8269404
198 Joseph emmanuel Kerala R0956243
199 Joy jeena Kerala S4163168
200 Divakar aathira Kerala N3261864
201 Dominic yesudas Kerala Z4823189
202 Navneet kakkoth Kerala S0101965
203 Kevin thomas Kerala S5883578
204 Jojitha lalu Kerala S5034718
205 Lijith saji varughese Kerala T9208188
206 Abhijith m sidharthan Kerala S5041623
207 Nabeel mukri k Kerala P8103170
208 Pradhan shreejana Kerala S1287363
209 Priscilla deepak Kerala U8144074
210 Sarga preetha sam Kerala S1197803
211 Rose gargi Kerala S3406827
212 Aswathi sethunathan pillai Kerala R9045750
213 Sara Saju Kerala S 50232916
214 Akash ajayan Kerala N8683129
215 Nellore Monika Kerala R4570221
216 Mohammad siyam Kerala N0690691
217 M P shikhil Kerala R3527082
218 Aby Jacob TT Kerala M8327760
219 Anu Anna TT Kerala N6157018
220 Sauban mohammed sadique Kerala N5122795
221 Ashna PS Kerala R3306669
222 Antony sonu Kerala R2903749
223 Mufeed muneer mpp Kerala R0349268
224 Albin antony Kerala R1133474
225 Nasrin nasar Kerala R1996521
226 Vismaya Rajeev P Kerala K8714993
227 Mohammed Naufal Kerala R0542596
228 Jeffrin K V Kerala R1153685
229 Mohammed Sadique Kerala P7461687
230 Midilaj Kerala L4521924
231 Lovely Diaz Kerala R3516462
232 Sagara sabu Kerala N2958053
