Students defy martial law, make a dash for border

Even as the first group of about 400 students stranded in

Ukraine

crossed over to Romania on Friday with the help of

MEA

officials, a panic-struck group made a dash for the Ukraine-Poland border in a hired bus and some cabs without the knowledge of the Indian embassy or permission of local authorities. Martial law is in force in Ukraine and there is strict restriction on movement.

Their collegemates told TOI that they tried very hard to dissuade them but in vain. "We told them it could be suicidal to go off on their own when a war is on, but they refused to listen," said a student at a hostel in Ternopil, around 250km from the Polish border. Indian embassy officials and hostel authorities immediately contacted the rest of the students and told them to stay put. They were assured that evacuation plans were on and they would be rescued.

Sanskar Verma

, a medical student from

Madhya Pradesh

, said that the group of 55-60 set off around 6pm on Friday (9.30pm IST). "We were surprised when some students started gathering on the ground floor of our hostel. We soon learnt that they had managed to book a small bus which was ready to drop them off at the Polish border," said Sanskar.

Within minutes, several others joined the group. All of them had their escape packs ready, anyway. "There was utter chaos. The bus was booked for only 20 students, but around 55 clamoured to board it. Even those who hadn't paid for the bus got on," added Sanskar. Many of those who had paid for the trip were forced to hire cabs.

University staffers rushed to the hostel and told students to stay calm. "They assured us that everything was being done for our evacuation," said a student. The embassy has promised to bear hostel expenses.


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