TV
Around 50 students from Odisha have been stuck in Israel amid the Hamas militant group attacks on the country.
On Saturday, militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel and infiltrated Southern Israel. Following the air attack, Israel declared war on the group. In what has come to be known as the worst escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict, over 300 have been killed and thousands injured.
As per reports, around 50 Odia students are studying in various universities in Israel. The students are not coming outside their houses due to the war situation. Following the war siren, they immediately run inside the bunker.
Israel’s army has trained them on how to enter the bunker immediately after hearing the sound of a war siren. They have been ordered to keep food and drink ready for 72 hours.
“I am regularly in touch with my daughter since the attack by the Hamas militant group on Israel. However, on the day of the attack, I couldn’t contact her as she had switched off her mobile phone. After that, we have been speaking with my daughter twice or thrice every day. Things have improved and she is talking naturally with us since Monday,” said Ratnakar Panda, father of Arpita Panda who has been stuck in the war-struck country.
Arpita is currently pursuing Ph.D. in chemistry at Ariel University in Israel. She is expected to return to India on October 16.
“Arpita is currently staying in the varsity hostel and she is safe and secure. Though a terrorist has been nabbed from Ariel University, no explosion has occurred on the varsity premises. However, they have been told to remain alert. As per the direction of the Israeli army, the students have kept adequate food and water ready for 72 hours. They have also been told to run inside the bunker immediately after hearing the war siren. We are in constant touch with the Indian embassy and they have allowed our daughter to return to India,” said Ratnakar.
“As per the feedback by my daughter, Israel government is providing all sorts of help to the students and asking them not to be scared of the unprecedented situation. Arpita and other students were scared on the first day of the attack. However, the situation has normalised since then. Only the border areas of the country are still tense,” he added.
