Video chats help parents, students abroad stay connected

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 28

In the wake of the outbreak of deadly Covid, the parents of hundreds of Himachalis studying or working abroad are anxious about the well-being of their children. They are virtually under confinement due to lockouts.

“My daughter is pursuing MBBS from Angles University in the Philippines. She has been confined to her hostel room since March 11, but is safe,” says Dr CB Mehta, Principal, Government College, Sanjauli. He said a silver lining was that there were about 80 to 100 Indian students in the hostel and the caretaker was also Indian.

“We have been told that there is nothing to worry as ration for two months has been stored and the students are being served meals in their rooms itself. We are in contact with her through WhatsApp calling and our message to her is stay safe and stay confined to rooms.” he said.

Another teacher at a government college, Anjali Sharma, said her daughter was pursuing MBBS course in Venezuela. “As all students were asked to leave for their homes, we had booked air tickets for March 19, but all flights were cancelled and my daughter could not return. Her landlady has left for her native place, but there are still some students around. Their online studies are going on and we are in constant touch through video chats. We have asked her to stay healthy and alert and not panic”, she said.

The situation of two foreigners studying in Himachal Pradesh University, who could not return home, is no different. Epti from Indonesia is the final year student of mass communication and journalism while Nushana from Bangladesh is a student of the second semester, MA geography. They are the only two girls staying at Vidyottama Girls hostel as they were not allowed to go out and stay with friends.

“I was planning to go out to stay with friends, but the university authorities advised us to stay put,” said Epti, adding that a guard was available round the clock and their Internet was also working.

The students said they were feeling lonely, but staying here safe was the only option.