Srinagar, Mar 09: Indian medical students, including several from Jammu and Kashmir, studying at universities across Iran have sent urgent distress messages to authorities, expressing fear for their lives and demanding immediate evacuation as explosions rattle areas near their accommodation amid escalating tensions.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), students from Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences in Qom, Kerman University, Shiraz University and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences have all reported being in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran seeking help.
Students at Urmia said they had submitted their details to the embassy for evacuation, but were told that the only route out was through Armenia, and that they would have to bear their own onward travel expenses from there to India.
“Most of us are students and cannot afford such costly arrangements,” a Kashmiri student at Urmia University said.
Many students have been accommodated by the embassy in a hotel near the Fatima Masumeh Shrine area in Qom. However, students say that the location has become alarming.
“On the night of March 8, we heard two to three loud blasts near our hotel. Some buildings within nearly 200 metres of our accommodation were reportedly targeted. We are extremely frightened. Many students were crying and calling their families,” a student said.
“We are living in constant fear. Whenever we hear a loud sound, we rush towards basements or safe corners. Our families are extremely worried, and we request the Government of India to evacuate us as soon as possible,” another student said.
Students from Kerman, however, said embassy officials had informed them that the area was considered safe and that there was no relocation plan in place.
“Officials told us that the area is safe and there is no relocation plan for now. But we are seeing reports of attacks in nearby places, which have created panic among students,” a Kerman student said.
Students at Shiraz and Isfahan universities reported receiving similar responses from authorities despite reports of attacks in surrounding areas. Many have begun shifting to basements and safer corners of their buildings whenever they hear sounds of explosions.
Parents of the affected students in Jammu and Kashmir have urged the Government of India to act immediately.
“Our children are calling us, crying and saying that blasts are happening near their accommodation. We are extremely worried and unable to sleep at night. The government must immediately evacuate them,” a parent from Pulwama said.
Another parent alleged the official response had been slow. “It appears that the Indian government is not taking the situation seriously. Our children are stranded in a conflict zone. The government should arrange special flights and bring them back safely,” the parent said.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, National Representative of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), said distress calls from students across Iran were increasing rapidly.
“We are receiving nearly 500 distress calls daily from students across Iran. Many of them are frightened and requesting immediate evacuation. We are in constant contact with them and are also conveying their concerns to the concerned authorities,” Dr Khan said. He urged the Government of India to take urgent steps for safe evacuation. (KNO)
