State Govt aiming to help expedite evacuation of students & other stranded persons
Friday, 04 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Out of the 287 persons from Uttarakhand reported to be stranded in Ukraine and its neighbouring nations, 86 have safely returned home so far. Chairing a video conference on Thursday, the chief secretary Sukhbir Singh Sandhu directed all the district magistrates to remain in contact with the families of students and other citizens from Uttarakhand who are stranded in Ukraine. Relevant information about such persons should be shared soon with the state administration and the office of the state’s resident commissioner in Delhi, he said. All information should be shared without any delay with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) so that people of Uttarakhand stranded in the war-afflicted nation can be evacuated swiftly, said Sandhu.
He also directed the officials to remain in touch with the additional director general of police (Intelligence) in case they get information from social media about any stranded Uttarakhandi but are unable to ascertain the location of that person. Information has been received so far about 287 persons from Uttarakhand stranded in Ukraine and adjoining countries, out of which 86 have been returned home safely.
Officials stated in the meeting that three WhatsApp groups have been formed to connect the stranded persons and their families in Uttarakhand with all senior officials concerned also being included in these groups. District level officers are also personally in consistent contact with family members of the students stranded in Ukraine, said the officials.
The chief secretary said that a coordination centre has been made by the state government for people of the state returning from Ukraine to Mumbai and Delhi. In addition to facilitating accommodation and meals for such persons, the state government has also arranged to transport them from Delhi to their destination. He directed the officials that any information about the current location of Uttarakhandis returning from Ukraine should be shared swiftly so that the same is sent on time to the office of the state’s resident commissioner and MEA. He directed all the district magistrates that based on available data teams should be sent to contact family members of Uttarakhandis still stranded in Ukraine and its neighbouring nations who have been unable to contact their families here so far. Additional chief secretaries Radha Raturi, Anand Bardhan, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu, ADG (Intelligence) Sanjay Gunjyal, secretary SA Murugesan along with all DMs virtually attending the meeting were among those present on the occasion.
