Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, India is preparing to evacuate more than 10,000 of its nationals, mostly students, stranded across Iranian cities. Iran, having shut down its airspace due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, has now allowed Indian citizens to exit the country through its land borders to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. The move comes after repeated requests from New Delhi seeking safe passage for its citizens, particularly those studying in medical and technical universities.
Alternate Routes Open for Evacuation
With Iranian airspace shut, the Indian government is now examining other feasible evacuation options. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has confirmed that it is actively coordinating with local authorities and the Indian student community to ensure their safety. In some instances, students have been relocated to safer locations within Iran under the embassy’s guidance. As of now, no official timeline has been announced for the start of the evacuation operation, but India is closely monitoring the situation and preparing logistics for a land-based exit plan.
Student Injuries and Growing Panic
The urgency of the evacuation was further highlighted after two Indian students from Kashmir were injured in an explosion near a boys’ dormitory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The students were later moved to Ramsar, a safer region, by the university. One of the injured, Imtisal Mohidin from Handwara, shared her traumatic experience, revealing that she and hundreds of others have been stuck in a basement for days amid constant explosions. “We haven’t slept for three days. One of the blasts was just 5 km away,” she told ANI over a phone call.
As anxiety spreads among the families of stranded students, political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have called for swift intervention. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra and PDP leader Iltija Mufti have both urged the Ministry of External Affairs to expedite the evacuation and ensure the students’ safe return.
Hundreds of students from Jammu and Kashmir are currently pursuing professional courses, especially medicine, across Iranian universities. The ongoing conflict has thrown their academic and personal lives into turmoil, triggering appeals for urgent diplomatic and logistical support from the Indian government.
