Srinagar, Mar 20: Kashmiri families say Eid celebrations will only take place once their children stranded in Iran return home safely, as fear and uncertainty continue to grip them.
“We will celebrate Eid only when our dear ones reach home safely,” said Bashir Ahmad from Sopore, adding that the family has spent sleepless nights since the conflict began, with little information about their child’s whereabouts.
Farooq Ahmad from Kupwara, whose daughter is pursuing MBBS in Iran, echoed similar concerns. “Eid will have meaning for us only when our daughter returns home. Since the war began, we have been deeply worried about her well-being,” he said.
Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) said around 150 Indian students remain stranded at the Azerbaijan border, particularly in Astara, due to delays in exit code issuance. In a recent development, students have been given the option to exit via Armenia.
Students are expected to receive visas on arrival in Armenia but will have to arrange and book their own travel tickets, adding to their financial and logistical challenges.
A majority of the stranded students are from Islamic Azad University and Iran University of Medical Sciences. Overall, more than 400 Indian students are still stuck in Iran.
Several students who have already reached Armenia are waiting for flight schedules to return to India.
Meanwhile, a significant number of students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Urmia University of Medical Sciences have safely returned home.
According to Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, flights are operating daily to facilitate the return of Indian students. He said Armenia has emerged as a smoother evacuation route, while students at the Azerbaijan border continue to face delays and challenges.
