Andhra Pradesh arranges two flights today from Manipur to evacuate students

VISAKHAPATNAM: The AP government has arranged two special flights on Monday to evacuate state students, who have been stuck in various educational institutions located in the ethnic violence-affected Manipur.
About 150 students have been stranded in their hostels for the last few days amid the ongoing clashes between different groups, escalating riots, curfew, and the consequent 'shoot at sight orders' in 'extreme cases' issued by the Manipur government.
AP has so far identified 157 students from the state studying in Manipur. The state government will bring them back in two special flights. The flights will bring 108 students to Hyderabad and 49 to Kolkata. The flights are scheduled at 9.35 am and 11.10 am respectively.
In a letter to the Union civil aviation ministry, former chief secretary and AP Bhavan resident commissioner Aditya Nath Das said that the present conditions in Manipur are causing distress to the students and their families back home.
"It is requested that a flight to Hyderabad or Vijayawada may be arranged for the safe passage of these students from Manipur back to their homes," said Aditya Nath Das.
The Telugu students have lost connection with the outside world with the suspension of internet services and disruption in transportation services.
Hostels running out of food, grocery supplies
A part from the safety and security concerns, several students complained to TOI of even lack of sufficient food as grocery supplies are fast running out in their hostels. They sought immediate government intervention to reach the safety of their homes in Andhra Pradesh.
A Venkatesh, a student at Central Agricultural University, Imphal, said that they could not meet even basic needs as day-to-day life has been severely affected due to the clashes and violence.
“All the shops and establishments have remained closed for the last several days. We do not know what is happening outside our hostel in Manipur due to the ongoing restrictions under Section 144 and cancellation of public transportation services. We are holed up in our hostel rooms,” said Venkatesh. Y Kishore, a student at NIT Manipur, said that they are having only a meal a day due to the limited supplies of groceries.
“All the students are waiting for government help with a bated breath. As the situation is getting deteriorated with each passing day, early evacuation of students can only help relieve them and their parents on all fronts,” said Kishore. K Yaswanth, a third-year student at NIT Manipur, said that several houses surrounding their campus were torched a few days ago. “We could even hear cooking gas cylinder explosions when fire gutted these houses. Mobile calls are the only way to reach out to our parents and get information from outside.
We could see the security personnel movement from our hostels. We are requesting the government to help us reach our homes” said Yaswanth. Meanwhile, officials in the districts have issued public statements, requesting the parents/relatives of whose kids are studying in Manipur to reach out to the control rooms concerned set up in the collectorates with their wards’ contact details.
Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana said that special flights are being arranged for the students. “Officials have already identified 100 students and it is estimated that 50 more students might have been stranded. Three senior IAS officers have been monitoring the evacuation operation. We are in constant touch with the Union government authorities. I request the students and parents not to worry over the students as AP is committed to bring all students safely back home,” said Satyanarayana.