As many as 480 Indian medical students, who were stranded in Russia due to the coronavirus- induced restrictions, arrived in Mumbai by a private chartered flight on Monday.
Some of the students who came back thanked Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray for the help in facilitating their return.
Shiv Sena''s Mumbai-South MP Arvind Sawant told PTI that he advised students who contacted him to tweet to Thackeray for help since he is a cabinet minister and holds charge of the protocol department.
The students, who returned by the Royal Flight from Russia on Monday contributed 400 dollars each, (around Rs 30,000) for the journey," said Nikesh Ranjan of Delhi-based Nixtour online ticketing company which arranged the flight.
Thackeray helped in coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the state government and the Indian embassy for the return of these students, he said.