Tuesday came with an extreme grief news coming in from the battlefield of Kharkiv in Ukraine where an Indian student has been dead in a missile strike.
The student, recognized as Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, comes from Chalageri in Karnataka’s Haveri district. According to reports, Naveen was leading towards the railway station from his flat but was killed in a missile strike. He was a student of Kharkiv National Medical University.
The External Affairs Ministry also confirmed Naveen’s death. The MEA took to Twitter to notify, “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.”
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.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022
“Foreign Secretary is in talks with Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our request for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are yet in Kharkiv and cities in other war zones. Similar procedure is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.”
News of the student’s demise came within an hour of the Indian embassy in Ukraine announcing to its citizens to immediately leave capital Kyiv. “Advisory to Indians in Kyiv- All Indian nationals comprising students are instructed to vacate Kyiv urgently today. Rather by available trains or through any other means available (sic),” a statement from the embassy announced.
The Indian government has begun a huge mission to bring back its stranded citizens from war-torn Ukraine via neighbouring nations and has sent its senior ministers to boost the evacuation procedure.
