Evacuated from Iran: Hundreds of Kashmiri students reunite with families
Srinagar, Jun 21: A large group of students who reached New Delhi late Friday night from Mashhad, Iran, via a special chartered flight arranged by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, arrived in Srinagar on Saturday morning.
The students, majorly from Kashmir, boarded morning flights to reunite with their families, amidst tears and smiles. Approximately 290 students were evacuated on Friday night, with another 200 arriving from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Saturday morning as part of "Operation Sindhu". Hundreds more are being evacuated in a flight scheduled for Saturday evening.
Families in the Kashmir had been anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones stranded in Iran while news of bombs and missiles flashed across media. A majority of evacuees are travelling towards Srinagar and Jammu in buses arranged by J&K Government. The transit from Delhi to their homes in J&K is being overseen by J&K Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Transport Sat Sharma. Sharma said the students will be brought back in Deluxe buses had been deployed and the J&K Government was in coordination with officials in MEA and other local authorities.
Among those who arrìved Friday night, some chose to pay for airtravel and reach homes. Many students had also reached homes a day ago in similar way. They had arrived via Armenia. One such student, Suheem, told Greater Kashmir that he had not slept for a week due to fear and exhaustion. "The tension and uncertainty was in air. I have fallen sick and requested my family to arrange an air ticket for me. They met me at the airport and we thanked Allah," he said.
He said the entire Operation Sindhu was "unbelievably successful" as students scattered around Iran were gathered and brought home. "For us it was unbelievable when we learnt that Iran had made an exception and opened airspace for stranded Indians. It was the best possible humanitarian gesture by the country that is itself suffering at the time," he said. Suheem lives in Srinagar and is a student of medicine in an Iranian University.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that 517 Indians including a significant number from Jammu and Kashmir, have safely returned home under Operation Sindhu. Iran’s decision to ease airspace restrictions, allowing three special charter flights operated by Mahan Air to evacuate over 1,000 Indian students has been seen by studentsas a major diplomatic gesture.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has played a pivotal role in coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Iran. JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami reported that around 600 students, including 500 from Kashmir, were safely relocated from Qom to Mashhad as part of the evacuation efforts. While praising the government’s intervention, the JKSA urged faster coordination, noting that hundreds of students remain in precarious conditions in Iran, particularly in cities like Rasht and Gilan, where some reported a lack of communication from the Indian Embassy.
Parents in Kashmir continue to appeal for expedited evacuations, citing the worsening situation in Iran. A parent quoted by Northlines expressed frustration, stating, “Most of the students are still awaiting their evacuation. The students are stranded at Mashhad near the Turkmenistan border, Rasht, Caspian Sea, and other locations.” The Indian government has assured that more flights are planned, with preparations underway to evacuate additional nationals still stranded in Iran.
The safe return of these students has been a moment of pride and relief for the nation, with social media posts reflecting gratitude toward the government’s efforts. One user on X wrote, “A proud moment of swift coordination and relief. Welcome back, Heroes; your nation stood by you.” As Operation Sindhu continues, the focus remains on ensuring the safe return of all Indian nationals, with the government closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with regional authorities to facilitate further evacuations.
