Delhi/Jammu: In a major relief for anxious families, around 60 students from Jammu and Kashmir, along with pilgrims, have returned to India from Iran aboard two flights, which arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning.
The return comes amid rising tensions in Iran, where several Kashmiri students remain stranded. Although no student or pilgrim from the Kashmir Valley has returned so far, the arrival of Indian nationals from Iran has sparked a sense of hope among parents in the Valley.
It is estimated that between 1,800 and 2,000 students from Jammu and Kashmir are currently enrolled in medical and other educational institutions across various provinces of Iran, making the situation a major cause of concern for their families.
On Thursday, parents of students studying in Iran gathered at the Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Srinagar, where they submitted a memorandum demanding immediate government intervention. Several parents said that communication with their children has become irregular and unreliable.
“We are unable to contact them from here because the communication system is not functioning properly. Even from their side, calls rarely get through. They are extremely scared,” said one parent.
Families also reported that markets and banks are closed in some parts of Iran, leading to a shortage of cash for students as financial transactions have come to a standstill.
Describing the situation as war-like, parents appealed to the Central Government to take urgent steps to ensure the safe evacuation of the remaining students.
They urged the Prime Minister, the External Affairs Minister, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Jammu and Kashmir Government to launch a coordinated evacuation operation similar to the measures taken during the Iran–Israel crisis last year.
While the return of the first batch has provided some relief, families continue to press for a comprehensive evacuation plan to ensure that all stranded students are safely brought back home.
