Indian Students, Mostly From Jammu Kashmir, Arrive in Delhi After Evacuation From Iran | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The first group of more than 70 Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict, safely arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on Sunday morning. The arrival marks the initial phase of the evacuation process.

In a statement, National Convenor of students association Nasir Khuehami said the students undertook a long and challenging journey via land and air, coordinated with relevant authorities. The group travelled by bus from various cities in Iran to Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan to Dubai. From Dubai, they took a connecting Flydubai flight to Delhi, landing at around 9:45 AM.

Khuehami stated that most of the students had been enrolled in universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Many had previously been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran due to the deteriorating security situation.

The evacuation was carried out through coordinated efforts between the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions in Tehran and Yerevan, and other concerned authorities. The students travelled on commercial flights as part of this initial repatriation arrangement.

He expressed relief that the students had returned safely, bringing comfort to families who had been anxious about their children in the conflict-affected region. Khuehami also urged the government to launch a full-scale evacuation operation, similar to previous large-scale operations in Ukraine and during last year’s crisis in Iran, to ensure the safe return of all Indian students still stranded in the country.

For their onward journey from Delhi, AC sleeper buses were arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, with coaches stationed at Terminal 3, Indira Gandhi International Airport. Some students opted for these buses to return home, while others booked connecting flights to Srinagar due to fatigue from the long journey.

Khuehami noted that many students were exhausted after continuous travel over several days but emphasised that these arrangements ensured a smooth and safe return for the evacuees.