Rupal Gosavi (Left) and Sudhanshu Shashank Salgudi (R) returned safely back to India from the war-hit Ukraine.
Gomantak Times
Another Goan student, who was stranded in war-hit Ukraine, returned to India safely on Wednesday morning, becoming the third Goan student to be evacuated from the war-torn country.
Sudhanshu Shashank Salgudi, resident of Honda in Sattari, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday morning and is now on his way to Goa.
"Out of 17 Goan students who were studying in war-hit Ukraine, three have returned so far," said State NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar said, adding that efforts are on to evacuate the others.
On Tuesday evening, two Goan students, Rupal Gosavi from Bicholim, and Rachel Gomes from Davorlim, returned to Goa after safely reaching the country.
Gosavi is a second-year MBBS student and pursuing a course at an university in Ternopil in Western Ukraine.
"I felt good coming back home. You might have seen how the situation was in Ukraine and coming home from that situation feels really good. While travelling we didn’t have any problems because the Indian Embassy had done very good arrangements," Gosavi told Gomantak Times.
On being asked whether she witnessed any violence, she said, "Where I was staying also it was a safe place and now also it is safe there. I have not seen any sight of the war in Ukraine."
"I didn’t fear much but at the back of my mind there was little fear about what would happen the next moment," she added.
Her mother, Rashmi Gosavi, heaved a sign of relief as her daughter returned safely and thanked the Indian embassy.
“I thank god and the Indian embassy for getting my daughter back safely. I also thank our Chief Minister. It was a scary situation hearing the news about what was happening in Ukraine but I constantly kept telling my daughter to have faith in God and everything will be alright. And, that is how she has reached safely home today," she told Gomantak Times
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, who was present at the Dabolim airport to welcome Gosavi, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing back Goan students as part of Operation Ganga.
"I am confident that we will be successful in bringing back all Goan and others students stranded in Ukraine," he said.
Meanwhile, Anthony D'Souza, Director for NRI Affairs, informed that six more Goan students have been safely evacuated from Ukraine and will return to the country soon.
"Three students have reached Romania and awaiting flight tickets from the Indian Embassy while 3 more students have reached Hungary," he said.
