600 Kashmiri students in Qom clueless about path ahead

Srinagar, Mar 9: As many as 600 Kashmiri students, moved from Tehran to Qom in Iran for their safety are finding themselves stuck in a situation where their return home looks bleak.

With no clarity on their exit through Armenia, or the travel from Armenia, and the continuing violence, the students said they fear for their lives now.

While the boarding and lodging of students in Qom was being arranged by Indian Embassy in Tehran, the lack of clarity on evacuation efforts was proving a mental trauma for students and their families back home. Housed in hotels in Qom, the students said at least four strikes have taken place in their vicinity.

A video recorded and released by the students on social media said the strikes were as “near as 300 meters” from where they are lodged.

“We were woken up by strikes at 4 am by loud explosions. There was smoke billowing from nearby areas,” a student told Greater Kashmir.

The students said the building of the hotel that houses them “shook”.

Amidst the escalating violence in the country and persistent danger to the lives of Kashmir students and citizens from across the country, an expedited evacuation has become imperative. However, the students said they have no clarity on when and how they will be evacuated.

“The officials here told us they are waiting for directions from Ministry of External Affairs on evacuation. Till now, the officials are telling us everyday, that no further orders have been received,” a student told Greater Kashmir.

The students were evacuated from Tehran, the worst hit city in the on-going conflict, to Qom, a relatively safer location. However, with violence spilling to Qom and other cities as well, the stay in Iran has become perilous for students and foreign nationals.

The students said the journey to border between Iran and Armenia is nearly 20 hours distance by bus.

“The journey is aso not safe,” they said.

According to reports received from stranded students, the airfare from Armenia to New Delhi is hefty at the moment, making it impossible for them to manage.

“How can we make bookings, or take the journey on our own. We need our Embassy to help us,” the students pleaded. The students were able to communicate with their families after a week, due to internet blockade in the country.

Last year in June, the Ministry of External Affairs undertook ‘Operation Sindhu’ to bring back students and others stuck in Iran.