The Embassy of India in Tehran said on Wednesday that Indian students, including several from Kashmir, have been moved out of Tehran to safer locations due to the ongoing strikes in the Iranian capital.
In a statement, the embassy said the relocation was carried out as a precautionary measure amid rising security concerns in the city.
“Due to the heightened risk perception in Tehran city, the Embassy of India has relocated most Indian students who were in Tehran to safer locations outside Tehran,” the embassy said.
According to the embassy, arrangements for transportation, food and accommodation have been made for the relocated students.
The mission has also set up control rooms to assist Indian nationals in Iran and coordinate evacuation efforts.
Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media on Wednesday showed students travelling on buses from Tehran to what appeared to be safer areas. Several Kashmiri students were reported to have reached the city of Qom.
However, the embassy said some students declined the relocation offer and have chosen to remain in Tehran.
For those who continue to stay in the city, the embassy said its earlier advisory remains in place.
“They have been advised to stay where they are, remain indoors as far as possible, and stay away from windows,” the advisory said.
The embassy also asked Indian nationals to exercise caution and avoid areas where protests or demonstrations may take place.
Students in Iran said they had earlier decided not to leave the country as they believed the situation might improve with diplomatic talks underway. Many also pointed out that their final examinations were only weeks away and leaving now could mean losing an academic year.
Some students also cited logistical challenges, noting that only two flights per week operate between Tehran and New Delhi.
Back in Kashmir, families of students studying in Iran expressed concern over their safety amid the escalating violence. Parents staged sit-ins in several parts of the region, urging the government to speed up evacuation efforts.
“We have no contact with our children. We don’t know where they are and how they are,” the parents’ delegation said.
They appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to accelerate evacuation arrangements in view of the deteriorating security situation.
The embassy has asked Indian nationals in Iran to remain in regular contact through the emergency helpline numbers issued by the mission.
On Tuesday, Omar Abdullah said students from Kashmir currently in Iran were being shifted to relatively safer locations within the country.
