Mangaluru/ Udupi: The district administration in Dakshina Kannada has been intimated by the State Disaster Management Authority that nine medical students from the coastal district are currently stranded in Ukraine. The officials in the district administration is trying to reach out to the parents of these students.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Rajendra said that efforts were under way in Ukraine to send students back to their respective home countries.

Dakshina Kannada resident Olin Maria Lasrado’s son Claton Osmond, a student of Kharkiv National University, reportedly felt the tremors when a bomb exploded 15km from the camp where they are currently being sheltered. “They are in a safe place now, cooking and eating at the camp. The Indian Embassy also helped supply food to them. The embassy officials are in constant communication with the students. Although they are safe at the moment, there is no clarity as to when they will be evacuated. In fact, they were to leave the country on February 26. We are praying they return soon. They are struggling to survive at temperatures as low as minus four to five degrees Celsius,” said Olin Maria, adding that the Dakshina Kannada DC had been in touch with her.

Five students hailing from Udupi district are also stranded in Ukraine, confirmed deputy commissioner M Kurma Rao. “Glenwill Fernandes, Anifred Ridly D’Souza, Niyam Raghavendra, all three of whom are 20, Rohan Dhanjay Bagli, 24, and Mranal, 19, are all medical students, hailing from Udupi, currently stranded in Ukraine,” said Rao.

Glenwill’s father Melwyn Fernandes said, “My son left for Ukraine on February 15. He is in Kharkiv, and although he was very worried earlier, he sounded confident when we spoke today. Students in the bunkers are getting a limited supply of food, which is a problem. But they are all instilling confidence in each other. We are hopeful that the Government of India will help all its citizens in Ukraine leveraging its diplomatic relations. I pray all students from India return home safely. The government must make arrangements to airlift all students at the earliest.”