Sonu Sood to the rescue: 101 TN medical students stuck in Russia due to lockdown reach home
Chennai: Around 101 medical students hailing from Tamil Nadu, who were stranded in Moscow and were unable to make it to their home due to the fatal Covid-19 pandemic recently saw actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood to their rescue.
A medico, Dr Periyannan Somasundaram, informed TOI, he mailed several government officials, and also Sonu Sood after reading about him helping stranded Indian students in Kyrgyzstan. "None of them except Sonu sir replied," he says, adding, "I sent him a mail on July 22 and I got his response the next morning. It took a few days to get the required permissions. Finally, by the time the flight was confirmed, there was only half the number of students. Yet, his team didn't cancel the flight. He had a video call with us a few days before the departure and assured us that we would be brought back."
Initially, the plan was to airlift 200 students, but the number fell to 100. On July 31, Mr. Sood tweeted that he had arranged the airlift. He spoke with the students and assured them that the flight won't be cancelled even if the number of students was low, the student said.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Sood said, "I have been helping migrant labourers and students stranded in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Cyprus and Manila. It has been hectic, talking to embassies and ambassadors day and night and connecting with students through Zoom. It's not about money. When you are on a mission, you want to complete it. I haven't been trained to do this, but I thought I must help these people out."
"A lot of students were stranded across the globe and they were tagging me on social media, asking me for help. But I am not trained to do all this. So, I spoke to the ministries, ambassadors and embassies in the respective countries. When they have so much faith and hope in you, I think the Almighty gives you that extra strength to make it happen. I am glad I could do this for the students from Chennai because I started my journey from here. I faced the camera for the first time in Chennai for Kallazhagar. I'd reached Chennai by train and carried with me a book, 'How to learn Tamil'. When these students approached me for help, I felt I should get them back to the city," he added while talking to TOI
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.