Srinagar, Mar 07 (KNO): Anxiety and uncertainty continue to grip several families across Kashmir whose children are pursuing higher education in Iran, as the ongoing war-like situation in the country has heightened fears about the safety and mental well-being of hundreds of Indian students.
Concerned parents and stranded students have urged the Government of India (GoI) to immediately initiate evacuation measures, preferably through the Armenia border, as the security situation in various Iranian cities continues to deteriorate.
On Saturday, a group of anxious parents met the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir and apprised him of the growing concerns regarding the safety of their children studying in different universities across Iran.
During the meeting, the parents, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), requested the administration to take up the matter urgently with the Ministry of External Affairs and ensure the safe return of the students.
The Div Com assured the parents that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and is in touch with the concerned authorities. "Necessary efforts are being made to address the issue, although the evacuation process may take some time due to the prevailing circumstances," he said.
One of the parents said the situation in Iran has become extremely alarming, and families back home are under immense mental stress.
“Our children are living in constant fear. We keep hearing about explosions and attacks in different cities. As parents, we are unable to sleep or focus on anything. We request the Government of India to evacuate them at the earliest,” he said.
Another parent said several countries have already started evacuating their citizens from Iran and urged the Indian government to take swift action. “Countries like Azerbaijan have already evacuated their nationals. We urge the Government of India to take similar steps and arrange the safe evacuation of our children. Their safety must be the top priority,” the parent added.
Some parents assembled at the Press Colony, Srinagar and reiterated that the evacuation process should be fully coordinated and managed by the GoI to ensure a safe and organised return of the students.
Students studying in different Iranian cities described the situation as tense and frightening amid reports of explosions and security alerts.
A student studying in Shiraz said multiple blasts were heard near their hospital and even around the passport office, forcing them to remain in underground shelters.
“Yesterday, we heard several blasts near our hospital and even close to the passport office. Authorities asked us to stay underground for safety. The situation is extremely frightening, and we are worried about what might happen next,” the student said.
Students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences also reported that the city of Qom has been placed on red alert following reports of explosions in the region. “We have been told that Qom is on red alert after explosions were reported there. Many of us are extremely anxious and want to return home safely,” another student said.
Earlier, students in cities such as Urmia and Qom were asked to prepare a list of those willing to travel through the Armenia border route. However, the response remained limited as many students requested that the evacuation process be directly arranged by the Embassy of India in Iran.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, National Representative of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) and its J&K President, met Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, and raised serious concerns regarding the safety of Indian students studying in Iranian universities.
During the meeting, Dr Khan urged the ambassador to facilitate the safe return of Indian citizens and ensure coordination with authorities to support evacuation efforts.
According to the AIMSA representative, the Indian Embassy in Iran has offered logistical support to help Indian students relocate to neighbouring Armenia, which is considered relatively safer under the current circumstances. However, students have been asked to arrange their own onward travel from Armenia to India.
Dr Momin, who remains in constant contact with nearly 1,000 students studying across various Iranian universities, said many students are currently stranded at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Urmia University of Medical Sciences, while some have reportedly been shifted to an undisclosed location in Qom due to security concerns.
He said the embassy has informed students that they may leave the country through the Armenian border, but only after fulfilling certain conditions.
As per the communication, the students, those willing to leave Iran through Armenia, must first book their flight tickets from Armenia to New Delhi. A copy of the confirmed ticket must then be submitted to the Indian Embassy, after which the embassy will inform them about the time and arrangements for travelling from cities such as Shiraz to the Armenian border. Students without confirmed tickets will not be allowed to cross the border.
Students will also be required to pay a visa fee of 10 US dollars at the Armenian border.
Officials have further informed that if students reach Armenia earlier than their scheduled flight date, they will have to arrange their own accommodation and hotel stay until they depart for India.
However, if more than 40 to 50 students opt for this route together, the embassy may arrange a bus for their travel and possibly provide accommodation in Urmia before their onward journey.
At the same time, the embassy has clarified that if students decide to leave Iran through this route, the responsibility of the journey will rest with the students themselves, and the embassy will not take responsibility for their travel.
The advisory issued by the embassy currently asks students to remain where they are and avoid unnecessary movement. Officials have also indicated that there is no official evacuation plan in place for now.
Dr Momin said confusion continues to prevail among students regarding travel arrangements and the high cost involved.
“Many students cannot afford the airfare from Armenia to New Delhi, which currently costs nearly Rs 1 lakh per ticket. Some students who can afford the fare have already booked their flights from Armenia,” he said.
Most of the students are from Jammu and Kashmir and would be able to travel easily to their hometowns from New Delhi once they reach India.
“Many students believe that the Government of India should arrange repatriation flights and bear the cost of their return,” he added—(KNO)