Srinagar, Mar 02: A group of parents from Srinagar on Monday appealed to the Government of India to evacuate students from Jammu and Kashmir currently in Iran, expressing concern over their safety amid escalating hostilities in the region.
The parents gathered in the Bemina area of Srinagar, urging both the Union and UT governments to facilitate the return of students. They said they had intended to march towards Press Colony to highlight their concerns, but were unable to do so due to restrictions in place across the city.
Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, whose daughter Ronak is pursuing MBBS in Iran, urged the GoI and the Ministry of External Affairs to take immediate steps for the evacuation of students from Tehran and other affected areas.
“Several parents said their children are currently studying in the heart of Tehran, which has witnessed repeated strikes amid escalating hostilities,” he said.
The parents appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and facilitate evacuation. They added that until evacuation is carried out, the Indian Embassy should relocate students to safer locations within Iran.
The parents also alleged that several students were unable to leave despite a government advisory asking Indian nationals to depart, as university authorities had withheld their original documents, preventing them from completing travel formalities.
Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) said the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a fresh advisory directing students from SBUMS, TUMS, IUMS, Kerman, and other universities to relocate to safer locations within Iran by 7:00 AM on Tuesday.
AIMSA President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said students have been asked to move immediately to designated locations, carrying only a 5 kg bag.
Khan expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy for their continuous support, saying he remains in constant contact with students on the ground.
An estimated 9,000 Indian nationals, including nearly 1,000 Kashmiri students, are believed to be still in Iran as bombing continues and concern among families back home intensifies.
