Patnaik speaks to Shah over safety of Odias stranded in Ukraine

Bhubaneswar: With the guardians of 1,500 students from Odisha stranded in Ukraine expressing concern over the safety of their children, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday spoke to union home minister Amit Shah and urged him to ensure safe evacuation of students and labourers from the state.

Patnaik called up Shah in the morning after appeals poured in from common people from various parts of the state for evacuation of Odia students, most of whom are studying medical courses in Ukraine, reported PTI.

“The chief minister spoke mostly on the evacuation of students and labourers,” an official at the CM’s office said.

“Shah assured the chief minister that the Government of India is in touch with the Ukrainian government and is working to bring back the students and labourers at the earliest,” a CMO statement said.

Patnaik directed Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena to coordinate the return of the Odia residents from Ukraine.

District magistrates were asked to collect information regarding students and workers stranded in Ukraine and coordinate with their family members.

The stranded students are from Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Sundargarh and Sambalpur districts.