Odia Students Rescued From Manipur Land In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Ten Odia students who had been evacuated from violent Manipur touched down at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

The students, who were pursuing their studies in Manipur and were saved in the first phase, spoke about their harrowing experiences and the challenges they faced in the violence-hit state when they arrived in Bhubaneswar.

“The situation was quite dire. Gunshots and stone-throwing could be heard everywhere. We were shielded from the violence by the Rapid Action Force, which did a great job. However, it is normal to feel anxious when there is violence. Explosions all around us prevented us from eating and sleeping in our hostels,” according to a returnee.

The students were ecstatic after avoiding violence and arriving on their home soil.

Another student shared her horrifying experience, adding, “Not just Odia students, but local students are traumatised as a result of the incident in Manipur. Things don’t appear to be getting under control any time soon. The urgent requirement of the hour is for the students from other states to be evacuated quickly.”

However, the students are optimistic that everything would return to normal shortly even though they have safely returned. Once things are under control, they are certain that they will once more have the chance to finish their education at one of the several universities in Manipur.