LUCKNOW: It was a sigh of relief for a batch of 43 IIIT, Manipur students after they alighted at IGI airport in New Delhi on Tuesday evening at around 7.30pm.
The students and their parents have been concerned for their safety ever since Saturday, when the violence erupted in the north-eastern state.
“All thanks to the Uttar Pradesh government and our university authorities, who helped in smooth evacuation,” said Ayush Pandey, the 20-year-old evacuee student.
Speaking to TOI over the phone from New Delhi, the first-year student of computer science at IIIT, Manipur, Pandey said, “Since Saturday afternoon violence erupted in Imphal. Just a km away from our campus, a violent mob had vandalized and set ablaze the public and private properties. In fact, trees on the hill right behind our campus were also set on fire. Initially, there was a lot of anxiety and fear among students and university staff, but then a CRPF battalion which was based close to our campus was brought in to strengthen the security parameter”.
Taking stock of the critical situation of Manipur, on Monday, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states had evacuated their students and by Tuesday, states like UP, Bihar, Haryana, Nagaland, Karnataka and Delhi too started evacuating their students studying in Imphal.
According to the UP government, a total of 62 students were evacuated on Tuesday out of 136.
“After speaking to parents on the phone, I dialled helpline numbers provided by the UP government. The officials took details of mine and of other students. On Tuesday afternoon after having lunch at the university mess, we left for the airport in a high-security escort provided by the paramilitary force and Manipur state authorities. The UP government officials at the airport briefed us about the travelling arrangements and after boarding the flight we were again provided refreshments,” Pandey who hails from Gorakhpur’s Tara Mandal area said.
On arriving at IGI airport in New Delhi, Ayush Pandey along with 42 other students of IIIT, Manipur were taken to UP Bhawan and were provided with water and food.
From UP Bhawan, the students will be dispatched in various transport modes to their respective districts of the students.
Seven IIIT, Manipur students who have been left behind will be evacuated on Wednesday. All the students will return to Manipur in the last week of June or the first week of July.
The students and their parents have been concerned for their safety ever since Saturday, when the violence erupted in the north-eastern state.
“All thanks to the Uttar Pradesh government and our university authorities, who helped in smooth evacuation,” said Ayush Pandey, the 20-year-old evacuee student.
Speaking to TOI over the phone from New Delhi, the first-year student of computer science at IIIT, Manipur, Pandey said, “Since Saturday afternoon violence erupted in Imphal. Just a km away from our campus, a violent mob had vandalized and set ablaze the public and private properties. In fact, trees on the hill right behind our campus were also set on fire. Initially, there was a lot of anxiety and fear among students and university staff, but then a CRPF battalion which was based close to our campus was brought in to strengthen the security parameter”.
Taking stock of the critical situation of Manipur, on Monday, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states had evacuated their students and by Tuesday, states like UP, Bihar, Haryana, Nagaland, Karnataka and Delhi too started evacuating their students studying in Imphal.
According to the UP government, a total of 62 students were evacuated on Tuesday out of 136.
“After speaking to parents on the phone, I dialled helpline numbers provided by the UP government. The officials took details of mine and of other students. On Tuesday afternoon after having lunch at the university mess, we left for the airport in a high-security escort provided by the paramilitary force and Manipur state authorities. The UP government officials at the airport briefed us about the travelling arrangements and after boarding the flight we were again provided refreshments,” Pandey who hails from Gorakhpur’s Tara Mandal area said.
On arriving at IGI airport in New Delhi, Ayush Pandey along with 42 other students of IIIT, Manipur were taken to UP Bhawan and were provided with water and food.
From UP Bhawan, the students will be dispatched in various transport modes to their respective districts of the students.
Seven IIIT, Manipur students who have been left behind will be evacuated on Wednesday. All the students will return to Manipur in the last week of June or the first week of July.