225 students returned to Punjab from Ukraine so far: Chief Secretary
Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Mar, 2022 01:25 PM
Chandigarh, March 4 (IANS) As many as 225 students have returned safely to Punjab so far from the war-torn Ukraine, Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari said on Friday.
While directing officials to ensure safe return of the remaining students and other persons stuck in Ukraine, he said the state government is sparing no effort to help the distressed families in this hour of crisis.
Reviewing the status of calls recieved on the state government's dedicated 24x7 control room numbers i.e. 1100 (to call from within Punjab) and +91-172-4111905 (to call from outside India), the Chief Secretary was apprised that 476 calls have been received so far on these numbers and the queries are being immediately forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
He was also informed that 326 affected families have been visited physically by state government officials.
Tewari urged the affected persons and their relatives to immediately contact on the Punjab government's helpline numbers so that they can be provided assistance.
He also appealed the parents and relatives of the stranded persons to ask their children get in touch with the embassy and 'Government of India' officials at border posts and strictly follow the guidelines of the MEA.
Resident Commissioner, Punjab, Rakhee Gupta Bhandari apprised the Chief Secretary that all the necessary arrangements have been made for safe return of stranded students and persons.
She said they are in constant touch with the Indian embassy to ensure that no Punjab resident shall face any kind of problem in returning to their homes.
With Ukraine closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation in the country on Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has asked the Indian nationals to start moving towards the bordering areas so that they can be evacuated safely.
The Indian Embassy in Kiev stated that the helpline numbers are being set up at the respective check-points to facilitate evacuation through the borders. These control rooms will be based in Poland, Romania and Hungary and they will be managed by the Indian officials posted in those countries.
On Thursday, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had stated that Jaishankar has spoken to concerned officials in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia for setting up camps on the border areas for evacuation of stranded Indian nationals.
An official spokesperson said the affected people or their relatives could call from within Punjab on helpline number 1100 and others from outside India on +91-172-4111905 for seeking information in this regard.
Amid crisis related to wearing of hijab in classrooms, an Amritdhari (baptised) Sikh girl was asked to remove her turban in the reputed Mount Carmel PU College here in accordance with the February 10 High Court's interim order. Some parents of the college also complained of being targeted after their daughters were asked to remove the hijab.
