An Indian student was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city of war-hit Ukraine on Tuesday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The final year medical student from Karnataka’s Haveri died when Russian soldiers blew up a government building on Tuesday.

Naveen Shekharappa, the student who lost his life, was trying to find his way out of the city, said his roommate, who spoke to him last at 8 am.

“With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning,” it tweeted.

The ministry said it is in touch with the family of the student.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the family,” it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the father of Gyanagoudar.

Official sources said Modi offered his heartfelt condolences to the family following the tragedy.

With profound sorrow we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning. The Ministry is in touch with his family.

We convey our deepest condolences to the family.

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022

A number of Indians are still stranded in Kharkiv where Russia has launched a major military offensive.

The MEA said the foreign secretary is calling in ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate India’s demand for “urgent safe passage” to Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and other cities in conflict zones.

“Similar action is also being undertaken by our ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine,” the MEA said.

This morning, the Indian Embassy advised all citizens, including students, to leave Ukraine capital Kyiv “urgently today, by trains or any other means available”.

A number of students evacuated from Ukraine arrived in Mumbai by an Air India Express flight from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Tuesday morning.

Talking to reporters at the Mumbai airport, one of the evacuees, Nishi Malkani said the university where she was studying is located in west Ukraine, where the situation is comparatively better.

“We hid in our hostels for a couple of days and then managed to reach the western border quickly. Thousands of students in educational institutions in the eastern parts of Ukraine are facing a grim situation as travelling by road from there is extremely difficult, she said.

Also Read:Indian students in east Ukraine facing grim situation: Evacuee

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