Indian medical students relocated from Tehran to Qom amid rising Iran tensions

Srinagar: Thousands of Indian medical students are stranded in Iran as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. With the situation getting worse, many students have appealed to the Indian government for evacuation or relocation to safer places.

Raising alarm over the safety of Indian medical students in Tehran amid explosions, the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA) president, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, urged the urgent evacuation of Indian Medical students. He said that the situation in Iran is getting worse, and Indian students are getting tense.

After his request, along with others, the Indian students who were relocated from Tehran have safely reached Qom as part of precautionary arrangements. The movement was carried out in coordination with the Embassy of India in Tehran to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. The students were provided with well-arranged buses.

The association thanked the Embassy authorities for their timely support and efficient coordination during this relocation process.

"All students are reported to be safe. Further updates and videos will be shared shortly. We request parents and well-wishers to remain calm and united. Continuous communication is being maintained with the concerned authorities to ensure the safety of every Indian student," said the association. 

Apart from this, AIMSA also formally appealed to the External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to take immediate and proactive measures to safeguard all Indian citizens in Iran. 

The association has expressed deep concern over recent reports of explosions and rising smoke in Tehran, as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran. It pointed out that the rapidly evolving situation has heightened serious apprehensions about the safety of Indian nationals residing in Iran, particularly students enrolled in professional courses across various universities.

The association emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring of developments, timely communication with students and their families, and issuance of clear advisories to prevent panic and confusion.

Students stranded in Iran

Fear and uncertainty have gripped the medical students who are currently living in anxiety in the conflict-hit country. A student at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, said around 25 to 30 Indian students are currently stuck in the region and are living in constant anxiety.

“Right now, there are 25 to 30 of us here, and we earnestly request the government to take us to a safe place or evacuate us to our parents in our home country until the situation stabilises,” she said.

Explaining to IANS why they have been unable to leave earlier, she said academic commitments had made it difficult. “We had to stay here because of the university. We didn’t want to, but due to classes, exams, rounds, and hospital shifts, staying here was unavoidable,” she said.

According to her, the university administration has informed first- and second-year students that their next semester will be conducted online, giving them the option to either remain in Iran or return home and come back in April for examinations. However, final-year students nearing graduation are required to continue attending hospital shifts daily.

“They have just told us to stay safe in the dorms and not go outside. On top of that, they are pressuring us to move to another dorm. They are pressuring us day and night to vacate the current dorms,” she claimed.

She further said that several students are currently not on campus but staying indoors in residential accommodations, surviving on limited resources.

“We are not on campus right now; we are at home, making do with whatever resources we have. We are sharing supplies with our friends and eating what we have. The shops are also closed, and we can’t even order online. We are not supposed to step out,” she said.

Communication with families back in India has also become increasingly difficult due to internet disruptions.

“It is very difficult for those with internet access to contact them. For those without internet or VPN, they are forced to make international calls, which are rare. As a result, we have very limited communication with our parents,” she said.

Describing the tense atmosphere, She said explosions were heard near their area, though the exact location remained unclear. “It happened near the campus, though some say it occurred farther away. We do not know the exact location yet, but it feels very close to the campus,” she said.

“I am currently in the state of Isfahan, Iran. Given the current situation, even while staying in the dormitory, we do not feel safe at all. There is no sense of security at home. We are hearing a lot of explosions around us. There is a lot of panic and uncertainty,” she added.

She also highlighted the distress being faced by their families back home. “Parents are worried more than us, as they are constantly monitoring the situation through news updates. They are even more scared than us,” she said.

With the security situation remaining volatile, the stranded students have urged Indian authorities to intervene at the earliest and ensure their safety until normalcy returns to the region.

Assurance from government

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday (March 1) said the Centre is making continuous efforts to ensure the safe return of Indians stranded amid the conflict, calling the situation "volatile."

The Federal reported that Joshi said, "Currently, the situation there is turbulent. Even flying a plane there is dangerous."

Speaking to reporters at Rambhapuri Mutt in Chikkamagaluru, Joshi said, "The situation there (Middle East) is very difficult. It has come to my attention that Kannada people are stranded there."

He added that the government is closely monitoring the developments. He said, "I will go to Delhi today and talk to the concerned ministers. All efforts will be made to bring back the Indians there safely.” 

Referring to past evacuation operations, the minister said, "We have successfully brought everyone back during wars." He cautioned that conditions in the region remained unstable. "JD(S) MLC Bhoje Gowda, who is stranded in Dubai with his family, and all the passengers with him should be brought back safely," Joshi asserted.

Also read- Iran Unrest: Medical Student bodies seek MEA intervention as 3,000 medicos face safety fears