Gujarat: Barodian helps 2,000 hands over his restaurant to locals

In the middle of a war zone, Barodian Manish Dave had extended a helping hand to hundreds of Indians as well as Ukrainians who were stuck in Ukraine's capital Kyiv amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The little ration that was available at his restaurant was being used to feed everyone who amidst constant wailing of air raid sirens and bombings took shelter in the basement of his restaurant located near Bogomolets National Medical University's Hostel that accommodates nearly 1,500-2,000 students on Chokolivs'kyi Blvd.

On Tuesday, however, Dave, too left his restaurant along with other Indians as the embassy of India in Kyiv issued an advisory to all Indian nationals including students to leave Kyiv urgently, preferably by available trains or through any other means available.

"We have reached Kyiv railway station, waiting for the next train to come. But we don't know where to go. The safest option seems to be Romania. We are hoping to get evacuated from Romania," said Dave, who was accompanied by 13-odd Indians.

Anxiety was running high as Dave handed over his newly started restaurant venture to local Ukrainians in a haste. "They too need a space to remain safe, food to eat, till things return to normal," Dave, who had started his food venture in mid-January with high hopes, told sources.

At least 20 students from Vadodara are still stranded in different parts of war-hit Ukraine, officials said.