Srinagar: Nearly 600 students from India-administered Kashmir studying in Iran are facing growing anxiety and uncertainty after being relocated from the capital Tehran to the city of Qom amid rising security concerns in the country.
The students say they still have no clear information about when or how they will be evacuated, leaving them in a state of stress as tensions and reported air strikes in nearby areas continue to raise fears about their safety.
The group was moved to Qom earlier as a precautionary measure due to security risks in Tehran. However, the absence of a confirmed evacuation plan has left students and their families deeply worried.
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Students Describe Fear After Nearby Explosions
Many of the students are currently staying in different hotels across Qom. According to them, several air strikes have taken place in nearby areas, intensifying concerns about the deteriorating security situation.
In a video circulating on social media, students said that some of the strikes occurred only about 300 metres from where they were staying.
One student described being awakened by the sound of explosions in the early hours of the morning.
“We woke up around four in the morning because of very loud blasts. Smoke was rising from nearby areas,” the student said.
Students also reported that the hotel buildings shook due to the intensity of the explosions, adding to the fear among those sheltering there.
Students say that the Indian embassy in Tehran has arranged accommodation and food for them in Qom. Despite these arrangements, the lack of clear guidance about evacuation has left many feeling uncertain about their future.
Families back home in India-administered Kashmir are also said to be closely following developments and expressing concern over the safety of their children.
Students said they are repeatedly being told that authorities are waiting for instructions from higher levels.
“Every day we are told that there are no new instructions yet from the foreign ministry,” one student said.
Some students said they had heard that evacuation might take place through Armenia, but they have not received any official confirmation regarding this route.
Traveling by bus from Qom to the Iran–Armenia border could take around 20 hours, a journey students say may not be safe given the current circumstances.
At the same time, the cost of air travel from Armenia to New Delhi has reportedly risen sharply, making it difficult for students to arrange their own travel.
“How can we arrange such a long journey or book expensive flights ourselves? We need help from our embassy,” one student said while appealing for assistance.
Students also reported facing internet disruptions that limited their ability to contact their families back home.
Several students said they were able to speak with relatives only after nearly a week, a delay that caused additional worry among their families.
Although Qom was initially considered a safer alternative after students were moved from Tehran, the situation has become increasingly uncertain as reports of attacks in various areas continue to emerge.
The spread of tensions beyond major cities has heightened concerns among foreign students and residents across the country.
Last year in June, evacuation operations were launched under Operation Sindhu to bring back citizens and students stranded in Iran during a previous period of instability.
Students currently staying in Qom say they hope similar efforts will be implemented quickly so they can return home safely.
For now, however, many remain in limbo—waiting for official instructions while hoping the situation does not deteriorate further.
