157 stranded Andhra students in Manipur to be airlifted

08-05-2023 Mon 12:20 | Local | IANS

Amaravati, May 8: A total of 157 students from Andhra Pradesh stranded in violence-hit Manipur will be airlifted on Monday. The government of Andhra Pradesh coordinated with officials from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to arrange for two additional flights for the stranded students, one bound for Hyderabad, and the other bound for Kolkata.

Flight No. 6 E 3165 (A320) with 106 students is scheduled to land in Hyderabad at 12:45 p.m. while 55 students will be brought to Kolkata by another flight 6 E 3152 (A320)

Officials said the students reaching Kolkata will be brought to Hyderabad by three different flights. A total of 27 students will reach Hyderabad at 01:10 p.m. by 6 E 775.

Second batch of 15 students will arrive in Hyderabad at 03:55 p.m. by 6E 874 (A321). The remaining 13 students will be reaching Hyderabad at 11 p.m. by 6E 6528.

Amidst the ongoing law and order situation in Manipur, over 160 students from Andhra Pradesh presently studying at NIT, IIIT and Central Agriculture University in Manipur were caught in distress. The state government said that it is committed to helping the stranded students in every manner.

Two helpline numbers were set up in Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi to establish contact between the students and their families back home (011-23384016, 011-23387089).

Officials said the data collected from the control room at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan enabled tracking the whereabouts of over 160 students, allowing to streamline the efforts towards ensuring the safe passage of all students.

A team of two officials from Andhra Pradesh Bhavan has been deputed at Kolkata Airport to receive students and assist them with connecting flights to Hyderabad. The government of Andhra Pradesh has arranged for APSRTC buses at Hyderabad Airport to pick up students and drop them to their respective hometowns in Andhra Pradesh.

The government of Andhra Pradesh is coordinating with the government of Manipur to ensure the safe passage of students to the airport.