SRINAGAR: As explosions rocked parts of Iran over the weekend, three Kashmiri students sustained minor injuries in a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Hujat Dost Ali Hostel in Tehran, throwing families in Jammu and Kashmir into deep anxiety. With over 1,300 Kashmiri students enrolled in various medical universities across Iran, parents and public leaders have sounded the alarm, demanding swift and decisive evacuation measures from the Indian government.
The incident that triggered the current wave of panic occurred on Saturday, when a missile reportedly struck a student hostel in Tehran housing multiple Kashmiri youth. “Though the injuries are not serious, the students are traumatised and terrified,” said Nasir Khuehami of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), which has been actively coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Tehran. “The situation remains deeply concerning.”
There are mixed reports coming out of the war zone. One report said the students from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) have already been evacuated to a safer zone, while others are being moved university-wise in staggered batches. But for many students caught between fear and poor communication, the journey to safety remains uncertain. Another report said students enrolled in Velenjak University are making efforts to move towards Qom so that they later crossover to Armenia and take a plane.
The MEA, in turn, has been in contact with Iranian authorities and assured that the safety and security of Indian nationals is being prioritised. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed that he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and was assured of prompt action. “A decision to evacuate, if necessary, will be taken based on the ground situation keeping the safety of the students as the top priority,” Omar said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said the strike had occurred during an Israeli assault targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. He urged the Centre to treat the issue as an emergency. “The families are sleepless, terrified, and desperate for answers,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
The concern is widespread. Opposition parties, including the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have raised the matter forcefully. “Urgent action needed to evacuate J&K students amid escalating tensions,” wrote JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra in a public appeal to Jaishankar. PDP leader Iltija Mufti circulated embassy helpline numbers and offered support via social media platforms.
Back home in Kashmir, the panic is palpable. On Sunday, scores of anxious parents assembled at Srinagar’s Pratap Park, urging the government to bring their children home before the situation spirals further. “They haven’t slept. We haven’t eaten. All we want is to see them back,” said one parent whose daughter studies in Shiraz.
The Divisional Administration in Kashmir has swung into action by opening emergency control rooms at multiple locations, including the DC Office in Srinagar. Parents have been asked to contact the helpline numbers set up in Srinagar and Anantnag to register the whereabouts of their children.
Religious leaders, too, have joined in the appeals. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the attack “deeply disturbing” and prayed for the safety of all Kashmiri students. “May Allah protect them and give peace to their anxious families,” he said.
India’s diplomatic and administrative machinery now faces a critical test to ensure that the lives of over a thousand Kashmiri students are not caught in the crossfire of a widening Middle East conflict. With missiles flying and time running out, the pressure is on.
