Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 29: Several Kashmiri students stranded in Bengaluru due to the ongoing lockdown have demanded evacuation as the growing cases of COVID-19 and uncertainty regarding their return has gripped them with trepidation.
Around 60 students staying in Bethel Medical Mission hostel told Excelsior that they feel unsafe in the city and appealed Government for their evacuation.
“We are stranded in the hostel. We are unable to move out to get food. Even if we get food from outside we are not sure whether it is safe or not,” Imtiaz Farooq, a student said, adding if death is their destiny, they want to die in their homes.
They told Excelsior that their flights, scheduled on 25th March, got cancelled after the Government announced necessary lockdown to slow down the spread of the virus.
“Our flight was scheduled on 25th March but we returned from the airport as all flights were grounded. We are scared to go out. Government is telling us to stay home and safe but we are not safe here. We are scared,” Zubair Sheikh, another student said.
They said an extreme fear has gripped them after learning that a positive case has been reported from their locality. “The locality where we live has one COVID-19 positive. Due to that, we are unable to move out to get food,” Zubair Ahmad Sheikh, a student said.
“We are feeling insecure here because cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. The rates have skyrocketed. Some of us have run out of money as well. We don’t know how long this lockdown will continue,” Zahoor Mir of Trehgam, Kupwara said.
Another student, Mir Farooq told Excelsior that for the fear of catching infection they are scared to touch the food packets. “We get packed food and milk here but are scared to even touch the packets for the fear of catching infections. The packets might have been touched by an infected person on its way. We are ready to remain in home quarantine for even a month. Please evacuate us from here,” he said.
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