Srinagar, Aug 19 (KNO): The family of Saba Rasool, a fourth-year MBBS student from Safa Kadal, Srinagar who died last week in Iran, on Tuesday alleged that the Embassy of India in Tehran is “not properly coordinating” with them, causing a delay in the repatriation of her mortal remains.
A family member told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the body was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi tomorrow before being flown to Srinagar. However, the process has been stalled.
“We were told all arrangements had been completed and her body would be handed over today. But now we are being asked to bring different documents like her passport and are being made to run from pillar to post,” the family alleged.
They said the delay means the body may only reach India by Friday. “The next available flight from Tehran to New Delhi is on Friday. We urge the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to intervene so that her mortal remains are brought back without any further delay,” the family appealed.
Adding to the family’s distress, relatives said it has now been “five painful days” since Saba’s death, yet her body has still not been repatriated. “Her devastated parents keep waiting endlessly just to see their daughter’s face one last time and lay her to rest with dignity,” one of the relatives said.
He said every passing hour deepens their grief, as they look toward the door in hope, only to be told there will be more delays.
They added while the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Tehran have extended cooperation, “the delay is now from the Iranian side as concerned offices there may remain closed for the next few days—meaning the family could be forced to wait nearly two weeks for the last rites.”
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said the Indian Embassy in Tehran was seized of the matter and working to expedite the required processes. “The necessary formalities for the transportation of the mortal remains of late Saba Rasool are under process. All efforts are being made to complete the procedures,” a communication available with KNO reads.
Saba, who had been pursuing her MBBS at Urmia University of Medical Sciences since 2021, passed away on August 15 following health complications. Her friends and batch mates in Iran alleged gross medical negligence, claiming she was left unattended for long hours despite her deteriorating condition.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has written to Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention for both the repatriation of her mortal remains and a thorough probe into the circumstances of her death.
A statement from the association, it has now been 5 painful days since her death, yet her mortal remains have still not been repatriated to India. Her devastated parents & family in Srinagar are waiting endlessly just to see their daughter’s face one last time and lay her to rest with dignity.
“Every passing hour deepens their grief, as they keep looking toward the door in hope, only to be told there will be more delays. All formalities have already been completed. The @MEAIndia and the @India_in_Iran have extended full cooperation and are doing everything possible. But now the delay is from the Iranian side. We have been informed that the concerned office may remain closed for the next 2–3 days. This means her repatriation could be delayed by another 5 agonizing days,” the statement reads, adding that JKSA has also flagged the issue urgently with the Iran ambassador in Delhi.
It reads imagine the pain of parents, waiting beside an empty home in Srinagar, unable to perform the last rites of their beloved daughter. Her brother, Huzaif has been running from pillar to post, requesting and pleading for help, while her friends in Iran are struggling to assist in this crisis. If the body is not flown back to India today, the repatriation will be delayed by another 4–5 agonizing days. Imagine the pain of a family forced to wait nearly two weeks just to perform the last rites of their beloved daughter.
“I make a humble, urgent appeal to @Iran_GOV & @Iran_in_India to intervene immediately, expedite the remaining processes, and ensure that Sabha Rasool’s mortal remains are flown back to India without a single further delay. It is about humanity, compassion, and allowing a grieving Kashmiri family to bid their final farewell. Your timely action will bring solace to this shattered family,” the statement reads further—(KNO)