Mangaluru : Two medical students from Mangaluru, who are stranded in Ukraine, are safe.

The students is Anaina Anna (22) daughter of Sandhya Vinod couple from Derebail in the city. Anna’s mother Sandhya told that the daughter is a third-year MBBS student at V N Karazin Kharkiv National University. “I have spoken to her and she and all her classmates are safe in their hostel near the border of Kharkiv. They were in their hostel when I called them. She messaged later that they could hear the loud noise of a blast outside. Since all airports are closed due to the war, it is not sure how and when they will be evacuated,” she said.

Sandhya added that Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra has called her to extend moral support.

Another Mangalurean student stranded in Ukraine is Claton Osmond (20) a resident near Kulshekar Church in the city.

Son of Morwin D’Souza and Olin Maria Lasrado, Claton is a first-year MBBS student and was staying in Kyiv. He had left Mangaluru in the first week of December to join the college.

Claton’s parents told reporters that their son is safe in Kyiv. “He did not panic in the morning, but later he developed fear. He is in touch with us every half an hour. In fact, a blast was reported at an airport near their place. He said people are panicking to buy groceries there. He is staying about 200 kms away from an airstrike site. They are in touch with the Indian Embassy that promised them of airlifting all soon. The government should act swiftly to bring them back,” said Morwin D’Souza, father of Claton.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra said that the district administration and state government have been putting extra efforts to help those who are stranded in Ukraine.

“We have received information that two students from the city are stranded in Kyiv and Kharkiv. Students have already approached the Indian Embassy and they were supposed to leave on February 26. However, now the airspace is locked there. We will provide all moral support to the families of those students. We have been following up by giving details to the state government and the ministry of external affairs,” the DC told, those who need any support may dial 1077.