Indian student dies in shelling in Kharkiv, MEA in touch with family

New Delhi (India): An Indian student was killed in shelling in Kharkiv city of war-hit Ukraine on Tuesday morning, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

"With profound sorrow, we confirm that an Indian student lost his life in shelling in Kharkiv this morning," it tweeted.

The ministry said it is in touch with the family of the student.

"We convey our deepest condolences to the family," it said. 

Foreign Secretary is calling in Ambassadors of Russia and Ukraine to reiterate our demand for urgent safe passage for Indian nationals who are still in Kharkiv and cities in other conflict zones.

Similar action is also being undertaken by our Ambassadors in Russia and Ukraine.

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 1, 2022

The student was a native of Chalageri in Karnataka's Haveri district, a state government official said.

"A student Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, a native of Chalageri in Haveri district, died in the shelling," the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority commissioner Dr Manoj Rajan told PTI.

A number of Indians are still stranded in Kharkiv where Russia has launched a major military offensive.(PTI)