Anxious parents and relatives thronged the Mumbai airport to receive the 219 students flown by Air India from Romania. The nervous tension at the venue quickly dissipated as the students made their entry. their entry. Emotions ran high as parents broke down on seeing their wards return to safety.  The students were stranded in Ukraine after Russia invaded the eastern European nation last Thursday. 

Security was beefed up to manage the crowd that had turned up at the venue. Officers from CISF and Mumbai Police had to escort the students and their families out of the airport.  Indubai Bhalerao, 74, said that despite her age, she wanted to receive her granddaughter Kashmira personally.  “I was told to not come and wait for her at home, but I wanted to be here. Now, I am waiting for my grandson. Both the siblings had gone to Ukraine to pursue an MBBS degree.” Several states set up help desks to assist the arriving students. While the Gujarat government arranged two special buses, the Kerala government announced that their students  will be escorted to Kerala Bhavan and will be flown out today.