110 Indian students, including 90 from Kashmir to return Indian tonight from Iran
Parents, students, express gratitude to Indian Embassy for help
Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar June 18 (KINS): Amid escalating tensions, the Government of India has evacuated around 110 Indian students, including nearly 90 from Jammu and Kashmir, from Iran’s Urmia Medical University.
The students were stranded in Iran due to the intensifying conflict in the region, particularly following Israel’s missile attacks on key Iranian cities.
The students, facing days of fear and uncertainty, finally found relief after being safely relocated across the Iran-Armenia border on Tuesday. They were received in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, where they were accommodated in designated hotels, with full arrangements made by Indian authorities.
Speaking to KINS, Faizan Ahmad, one of the Kashmiri students, said the past few days were filled with terror. “We were living in constant fear due to the missile strikes. Many students locked themselves inside hostels, unable to even buy essentials. We are grateful to the Indian embassy for extending all possible help during this crisis,” he said. He said some students were flown back to India while others have been relocated to safer places in Iran.
At least 6,000 Indian students are currently enrolled in various universities across Iran, over 1,500 of whom hail from Jammu and Kashmir. The students have been particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to potential conflict zones and lack of connectivity, which left many families back home in deep anxiety.
According to officials, the evacuation of the 110 students is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of all Indian nationals in Iran. “Hundreds more have been relocated to safer locations within the country, and discussions are ongoing to evacuate more students in the coming days, depending on the ground situation,” an official of the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“All expenses for travel, including international flights and connecting flights for the Kashmiri students from Delhi to Srinagar, have been borne by the Government of India,” an official involved in the evacuation process said.
The students departed from Yerevan Airport on Wednesday morning at 08:45 am IST aboard IndiGo flight 6E 9483 and landed in Doha at 2:05 pm. They then boarded another IndiGo flight, 6E 9487, at 3:05 pm en route to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where they were expected to land around midnight. From there, the Kashmiri students will be flown to Srinagar, with their arrival scheduled for Thursday.
Parents of the evacuated students in Kashmir expressed relief and thanked the Indian authorities for their prompt response. “We had sleepless nights. Watching the news and knowing our children were in the middle of this conflict was terrifying. We’re thankful they are safe now and also express gratitude to the Indian Embassy in Iran,” said Gulzar Ahmad, whose daughter is studying in Iran.
The Indian embassy in Tehran has been working closely with local authorities and the Armenian government to facilitate the smooth transit of the students. Officials have also assured that they are monitoring the situation and will continue to coordinate further evacuations as required. (KINS)
