TN professor stranded in Negev desert, Israel near Gaza
An associate professor at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU), Trichy, on a two-month training programme in Israel has been stranded in the conflict zone and she has sought help to return to Tamil Nadu, said her husband who is a HoD at the same varsity.
“She has been spending sleepless nights at the Negev, a large desert region in southern Israel, as the region is in close proximity to Gaza,” T Ramesh, an associate professor and Head of the Department, TNAU, said.
“For three days since Saturday she had to seek protection in a shelter. At present, Radhika (his wife) is safe and she is being provided food and water," Ramesh told PTI, and added that the raging war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is causing her stress. “She is very anxious to return home and our 13-year-old son, who is also apprehensive, wants to see his mother back home safe,” he said.
He said the Indian embassy had already contacted her and assured to process her request at the earliest.
Radhika, a PhD holder in Agronomy, left for Israel on September 23 to attend a two-month government of India sponsored training programme at the Ben-Gurion University. Both she and her husband have been in constant touch with the governments of Tamil Nadu and the Centre since the war began.