In a prompt and timely intervention Dr Manik Saha-led Tripura Government, three special flights were arranged to evacuate the students and other citizens of Tripura stranded in violence-hit Manipur. The first special flight with 171 stranded citizens of Tripura landed at MBB Airport in Agartala on Saturday at midnight.
Later, another batch of 50 students arrived in Agartala on Sunday while the second Special flight to bring back more citizens from Manipur.
On Saturday midnight, Transport Minister of Tripura Sushanta Chowdhury welcomed the students and interacted with them.
“I greeted them all on behalf of the Government of Tripura at the arrival gate of the Agartala Airport. Many thanks to the honorable Chief Minister of the state as it is because of him that the boys and girls of our State came back home safely today. The Hon’ble Chief Minister did the impossible overnight. Turbulent Manipur will calm down soon, all of you will go back to your respective workplaces, and everyone will be fine and healthy, I wish you all the best” Chowdhury said.
Most of the returnees were medical students studying at the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Imphal, Manipur.
The students shared their horrific experiences of living in a volatile environment where they witnessed arson incidents and violence taking place around them. According to the students, they were safe inside the RIMS hostel but they were panicking due to the violence occurring outside the campus. The students expressed their relief and gratitude to the state government for arranging their evacuation.
A few citizens of Tripura working in Manipur also returned with their family members and expressed their gratitude to the state government for arranging their evacuation.
Many worried guardians who had gathered at the airport to receive their children also thanked the state government and the Chief Minister for their prompt action.
Another special flight will bring back 37 more students of Central Agriculture University who have reached Guwahati.
Additionally, the usual Imphal-Agartala Indigo flight brought back 50 tribal students, for whom TIPRA Motha president Pradyot Kishore Debbarma shouldered the ticket expenses personally.
The government is in touch with the students in Manipur to monitor the situation and provide them with assistance for their safe return. A helpline has also been set up to assist them 24/7.
A team of Tripura government officers has been deputed in Imphal to oversee the safe evacuation of students and other citizens from Manipur and to arrange local support for their safe travels back to their home state.