About 100 students stranded in Iran will return to India via Armenia on commercial flights on March 14 and 15, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) said on Wednesday.
The association said in a statement that this will be the first batch of students returning from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
“The students will travel on Flydubai flights scheduled on March 14 and 15, which will operate as connecting flights via Dubai to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport,” JKSA National Coordinator Nasser Khouhami said.
“There is currently no official evacuation plan for Indian students in Iran, and the returnees are currently traveling through commercial flight arrangements,” Khohami added.
Imran Khan of Kupwara, whose son Nafi Khan lives in Urmia, Iran, said nearly 100 students there are very afraid amid the conflict and want to leave.
“Our only request from the Government of India is to ensure their safety until they reach home. I spoke to my son when he called this morning. Everyone here is praying for the safety of all students,” Imran said.
Hadi Ali from Srinagar said his cousin, also in Urmia, and other students there are terrified by the constant bombing. “They (the students) will leave for Armenia tomorrow and hopefully they will reach Delhi on Saturday. Everyone in our family is worried.”
Nasir Aslam, advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, said the government was doing everything possible to ensure the safety of students. “The government will provide buses for these students from Delhi airport to Srinagar,” Aslam said.
