Ukraine: Harrowing tales of students holed up in bunkers

Hameed Ashraf | NT

“When Naveen rang up his father this morning, he said there was no food and water in the bunker,” said Ujjanagouda, Naveen’s uncle. “A few hours later, we were informed that a student from Chalekere, Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagouda was killed in the war in Ukraine,” he broke down.

According to his family members, Naveen was in the fourth year of his course in the Kharkiv medical college.

The unfortunate news came from the warzone of Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine. Naveen’s friends said that they were hiding in a bunker and Naveen had just gone out to get some supplies.

“He lived near the Governor’s House and had been standing in the queue for food. Suddenly there was an air strike that blew up the Governor’s House and he was killed,” said Pooja Praharaj, a student coordinator in Kharkiv. “When we tried Naveen’s cell phone, a Ukrainian woman picked up his phone and said that the owner of this phone is being taken to the morgue,” she added.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed the killing, and tweeted , “ With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family. We convey our deepest condolences to the family.” As the city of Kharkiv is witnessing increasing fighting between the Ukrainian troops and Russian forces, the Kannadiga students are hiding inside the bunker of the National Medical College to stay alive.

“The rescue operations are being carried out on the Western side of Ukraine while most of the students are stranded in the Eastern side which is most affected by Russian bombings. Only a few Indians have been rescued so far,” Pradeep, a city based advocate told News Trail. Pradeep’s cousin is one of the students hiding with Naveen inside the bunker. “My cousin said that not even a single Indian embassy representative has contacted them,” he said. Naveen’s father too alleged that no one from the Indian Embassy reached out to the stranded Indian students in Kharkiv.

Reportedly around 16,000 Indian students are still stranded in Ukraine. Many have shared photos and videos on social media from underground bunkers, metro stations and bomb shelters, where they have been hiding since the Russian started attacking. Many students complained that they were not allowed to board the trains or they were mistreated by officials.