Kozhikode: Approximately 220 Malayali students are stranded in Kharkiv, a city in eastern Ukraine, which was bombed by Russia in the wee hours of Thursday. 

It is learned that several Keralites are currently staying inside underground metro stations and makeshift shelters in Kharkiv. 

"We stayed in underground bunkers and metro stations throughout Thursday night. Around 220 Malayali students are here from 7 to 8 hostels from the city. We were only allowed to leave bunkers to freshen up," Faisal Kassim, a Malayali student told mathrubhumi.com. 

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He also stated that it is still unclear how the evacuation plan would be carried out. Faisal revealed that many Malayali students are staying with him in a bunker of Botanichnyi sad hostel. 

"As per the information we received, we will be evacuated to neighbouring countries like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Hungary. However, we are in Kharkiv city, which is 1600km away from the nearest safe border. We need to travel hours by bus and pass through conflict-stricken Kyiv. The ministry and other authorities have said that this would be arranged. However, it is worth remembering that there are 1500 Keralites in the city, let alone 3000 Indians," Faisal said. 

Faisal feared how food and other necessities would last for the next couple of days. He requested the embassy and the concerned government to take necessary measures for the safe evacuation of students.