Thiruvanadapuram: Keralites stuck in war-torn Ukraine, who have yet to register with the government's Non Resident Keralite's Affairs NORKA Roots,  are encouraged by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday to register  as soon as possible.

He said that the state government was ensuring that all Keralites who had been repatriated from the eastern European country, which was under Russian attack, returned safely to the southern state. He estimated that 180 students would arrive in Kochi today evening on a chartered flight from Delhi.

The Kerala government would fly 180 students from Delhi to Kochi in a @AirAsiaIndia chartered flight at 4 p.m. We are working to ensure that all Keralites who have been repatriated from Ukraine arrive safely. Those who haven't signed up yet should do so with @Norka Roots," Vijayan said on Twitter.

On Tuesday, the Chief Minister asked the stranded Keralites in Ukraine to heed the Indian Embassy's advice, which advised all Indians to leave Kyiv as soon as possible. The warning came as fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces intensified near Kyiv.

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