Says students return via Armenia and Dubai, urges full evacuation of remaining stranded Indians
Srinagar, Mar 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Sunday said that the first batch of over 70 Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims stranded in Iran, have safely arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the students returned via Armenia and Dubai after an arduous journey, facilitated through coordinated efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions in Tehran and Yerevan.
“The majority of the students had been studying at various universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and others. Many had previously been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran amid the deteriorating security situation,” Khuehami said in a statement issued to the news agency Kashmir News Observer.
He said, the students traveled by bus from different cities in Iran to Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport, Yerevan, to Dubai, and then took a connecting flight to Delhi, landing at around 9:45 AM on Sunday.
“The evacuation was made possible through coordinated efforts between the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions in Tehran and Yerevan, and other authorities. The students returned on commercial flights as part of the initial evacuation phase.”
JKSA expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for facilitating the safe return of the students.
Khuehami said, “This development brings much-needed relief to students and families across Kashmir who were deeply concerned for their children’s safety. We urge the government to launch a full-scale evacuation, similar to operations during the Ukraine crisis and last year’s 12-day conflict in Iran, to ensure all Indian students are safely brought home.”
“AC sleeper buses were arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir government for the students’ onward journey. The coaches were stationed at Terminal 3 of IGI Airport to assist the returning students and pilgrims, ensuring a smooth transition after their long journey.”
Khuehami added that many students were exhausted from continuous travel over several days. Some opted for the arranged buses to Jammu and Kashmir, while others booked connecting flights due to fatigue.—(KNO)
