Jaipur: The situation along the Ukraine border is troublingly fearsome. This is all one can glean from what returnees from the area say. Three MBBS students from Ukraine who came home to Rajasthan related to media that they had seen soldiers all around. The trip to India left large holes in their pockets as well after they paid three times the normal airfare.
Lokesh Meena, Rajkumar Meena and Lakshya Rajawat from Jhalawad, Rajastan were in Ukraine when the nation descended into chaos. Russia from across the border is restively waiting to pounce on Ukraine, creating a volatile situation in Eastern Europe reminiscent of the swirling World War II.
The tension prevailing in the region is all too close to home for many parents in India. Of late, students from India opt for Russia and Ukraine to pursue higher education. Factors that drove youngsters in hordes to these nations include peaceful environs plus much longed European experience, in addition to high costs of medical education within the home country.
Madhu Kunwar Rajawat , mother of Lakshya, had a sigh of relief seeing her ward back home safely. However, she is loath to the cut-throat flight rates, "I request the government to arrange additional low-cost flights so that other students can return too. Their parents must also be worried like us," she said. Lakshya spent Rs 62,000 opposed to the normal Rs 23,000 to fly home from Ukraine.
Just as the military convoys take positions along the borders, with reports of Russia's temerity to attack Ukraine, most students chose to fly home. However, there is no telling whether peace will be restored, uncoiling tension in the area.
Students like Lakshya couldn't sit around waiting to see where the situation would end up. They scrambled up flights at huge rates, because their families were on the edge waiting for their children. They returned home, but many out there are not as lucky. "However, there are many other students who want to come back but are helpless due to the high ticket costs and limited seats," he said.
Lokesh who scrambled home in the thick of the situation says exorbitant airfares holds many students back at the warfront.
"They can't afford the tickets which are priced four times more than the normal fare. Hence the need of the hour is to reduce the flight rates. Even the flights charging four times more are getting filled. So the students are getting tense," he said.
Again on Tuesday India warned Indian students off Ukraine on the face of spiralling tension in the nation. The government issued the third advisory in the past week in, what it said, the interest of their safety.