Indian Embassy tells Indian students in Sumy about departure

New Delhi: Students reported that they could no longer cope with the bitter cold, depleted food supplies and having to melt snow in order to get drinking water as authorities continue to struggle to evacuate the shelling-cracked city.

India's foreign ministry said Saturday that ongoing shelling, violence, and the lack of transportation are the biggest obstacles to Indians being evacuated from Sumy.

In earlier videos posted on Saturday, the stranded students said they were planning to go to the 50km Russian border. Instead, they stayed put after the government contacted them and advised them to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

In an effort to evacuate around 700 students trapped in the northeastern Ukrainian city after Russian troops invaded it in late February, India urged Ukraine and Russia to impose a ceasefire in the area, with their evacuation hampered by fighting, foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters.

As part of "Operation Ganga," launched on February 26, India has brought back over 15,920 of its nationals in 76 flights.