Kumar Bahukhandi
Indian students stranded in Iran have appealed to the government for help- Photo Credit -X
Indian Students in Iran: In view of the deteriorating situation in Iran, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued an advisory advising its citizens to remain indoors.
Indian Students in Iran: Hundreds of Indian medical students are hiding in the basement of apartments to save their lives amid the increasing Israeli air strikes in Iran. The students are scared day and night amid the sounds of bullets, echoes of bomb blasts and slow internet speed. In this dire situation, Indian students have appealed to the central government for help.
Imtisal Mohideen, a resident of Kupwara district of Kashmir, is a third year MBBS student at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. He said, ‘I woke up to the sound of loud explosions at 2:30 am on Friday. I ran to the basement in panic. Since then I have not been able to sleep peacefully.’ He said that explosions are taking place around the university and one explosion took place at a distance of just 5 kilometers.
More than 350 Indian students study in Shahid Beheshti University. Now all of them are forced to live in the shadow of fear. The university has postponed all classes and students have been forbidden to go out. According to Imtisal, “We are now hiding in the basement of the apartment all day. The sounds of bombing are heard all night. We have not closed our eyes for three days.”
Indian Embassy’s advice: Stay at home, stay connected to the helpline
In view of the deteriorating situation in Iran, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a public advisory asking all Indian citizens and people of Indian origin to stay inside their homes and connect to the Telegram link provided by the embassy. The embassy said that this link is only for those people who are currently in Iran. The embassy said in a post, “We request all Indian citizens to connect to the given Telegram link so that they keep getting the latest updates related to the situation.” Along with this, the embassy has also released emergency helpline numbers.
However, the students say that the atmosphere of fear is so deep that only advice and messages are not providing relief. Imtisal Mohideen said emotionally, “We request the Government of India with folded hands to evacuate us from here as soon as possible. Before the situation worsens further.”
We came here to become doctors, now we are trying to return alive…
Faizan Nabi, a first year MBBS student studying in the city of Kerman, about 1,000 km from Tehran, also spoke to ANI. He is a resident of Srinagar and is studying at the Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Faizan said, “Sounds of firing were heard in our city today. My friends living in Tehran are very scared. The panic is so much that we have been asked to store drinking water for 3-4 days. Every day is passing in the shadow of fear.” He further said, “My parents call 10 times a day. The internet is so weak that I cannot even send messages properly. We came here to become doctors, but now the situation has become such that we are just hoping to return home alive.”
Now just hoping to return to India
Midhat, a resident of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir, is a fourth year student at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. He told that when the first attack happened, that night was the most frightening. Talking to news agency ANI, he said, “The sound of explosions came from so close that it felt as if everything was happening here. There was chaos all around. Everyone was nervous. We are constantly trying to stay in touch with our families and are keeping an eye on every news.”
He also told that there has not been much cooperation from the university. The Indian Embassy is constantly in touch through WhatsApp, but we have given up hope of help from the university. Most of us students are now spending our days locked in the apartment. The fear is so much that we do not have the courage to go out. Due to Iran’s limited airspace and the continuous bombing, the students do not know when the situation will become normal. They are now only hoping to return to India.
