A lot of students from Odisha, who are studying in Central Sanskrit University in Jammu, were a worried lot after last night’s attack launched by Pakistan. Though the drones and other weapons fired by Pakistan were successfully neutralised by the Indian Army, the students were worried and narrated their ordeal after returning safely to New Delhi on Friday.

The students were earlier asked to vacate the campus in view of the emergency situation arising out of the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The University officials and Odisha government had made adequate provision for the return of the Odisha students.

Students Narrate Ordeal

One of the students, who reached New Delhi on Friday, said, “We were afraid after seeing swarms of drones. We had fears but had faith in Indian Army and all were neutralised.”

Jitendra Prasad, who hails from Sambalpur, said that all the Odisha students have been safely brought back to New Delhi from Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Odisha government and the Ministry of Home Affairs contacted us and all proper measures were taken to ensure our safe return,” he said.

Responding with urgency, the Odisha government has announced a comprehensive evacuation plan. The Odisha Resident Commission in New Delhi has taken the lead in coordinating the efforts and has established a 24x7 control room to monitor the situation continuously. A dedicated helpline number has also been released to facilitate communication and assist the students and their families.

To further support the evacuation process, the state government is arranging a special train to transport the students from Jammu to Delhi, from where they will be assisted in returning to Odisha. Five senior officers have been assigned to oversee the operation, divided into dedicated teams to manage logistics, student safety, medical aid, and coordination with railway authorities.

The control room will also work in coordination with the Odisha Police, health department, and local authorities in Delhi to ensure that the students are received, accommodated, and transported smoothly.

Reaction of Students:

“After we reached here, proper food and lodging facilities were made. In first phase, 50 students were sent to Odisha from Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, in the last phase the students from Sambalpur, Balasore and others will be sent to their respective homes. Adequate transport facilities have been made for us,” said a student.

Another student, who witnessed the horror, said that the university and Odisha government helped them a lot and made all arrangements.

“We heard loud noise and saw drone attacks. Our air defence systems neutralised all of them. When the incident occurred, we saw around 40 to 50 drones in the sky from train. It was a tough time for us during that time,” said another student.

“Odisha and students from other states were in panic after seeing such events in front of our eyes. We are thankful to the Indian Army for ensuring safety. When we boarded the train, we learnt that more attacks have taken place. Our families back home were a worried lot. There was absolutely no network. We are lucky that with help of the university, the Odisha government and others we returned home,” said a student.