Srinagar: Indian students who departed Iran via an overland route by bus have reached Armenia on their journey back to their home country. Approximately 100 students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Urmia University were part of the first batch to exit the conflict-ridden nation.
Mahak Hussain, a student at Urmia University, confirmed that they crossed the land border and entered Armenia on Thursday.
The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) stated that these students are scheduled to fly from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on March 15; the Indian Embassy is overseeing their repatriation process.
The Embassy had outlined a plan for the students to exit Iran via the land borders with neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan at their own expense. Meanwhile, a group of Indian students at Arak University in Iran reported being distressed by airstrikes in the city and are demanding to be relocated to a safer location for their security. Last week, the Indian Embassy facilitated the movement of students from various cities—including Tehran—to Armenia in organized groups.
However, one student, expressing dissatisfaction with Indian officials, noted that the cost of their flight tickets amounted to between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000, while the Indian Embassy merely provided bus transportation up to the border.
Demanding immediate evacuation, the student stated, “We are distressed following the airstrikes. Our flight tickets are being cancelled, and our money is getting stuck. We are willing to bear the travel expenses ourselves, but at the very least, get us out of this place.”
In Kashmir—the region from which the majority of these students hail—parents whose children are now on their way home have breathed a sigh of relief, having previously been deeply anxious about their children’s safety. They met with officials and appealed to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs to evacuate their children in light of the escalating tensions in Iran.
One parent, who had booked a ticket for ₹70,000, said, “Despite paying out of our own pockets, we are happy that our daughter is returning home.” “The lack of communication and the sight of our children feeling helpless kept us awake for many nights.”
