India plans to evacuate more people from Iran via Turkmenistan after Armenia
A total of 90 students from Kashmir Valley are set to arrive in New Delhi tonight from Armenia, amid the evacuation operation facilitated by the Government of India in view of the Israel-Iran conflict | ANI
India is speeding up the evacuation of its citizens from Iran as fears grow over the worsening conflict between Iran and Israel. After already evacuating some people through Armenia, more evacuations are now planned via the Turkmenistan border.
The situation has become more serious after former US President Donald Trump warned residents in Tehran to leave, raising concerns for foreign nationals.
A large number of stranded Indians in Iran are medical students at different universities.
“They are taking people from Qom to Mashhad today, and then through Turkmenistan to India,” an Indian student told THE WEEK from Iran. “All students from Iran University, Shaheed Beheshti, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) are safe.”
He said they are all fine for now and are being evacuated in groups. “Hopefully, we will be able to leave by Friday,” he said, adding that some Indian-origin students holding Canadian and British passports are among those waiting to leave.
The first batch of students, from Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, was already evacuated through the Armenian border.
The evacuation efforts were increased after an Israeli missile strike hit a residential building near international student hostels. Five Indian students, two Lebanese, one Australian, and one Nigerian were injured in the attack.
After the incident, Iranian officials moved students to safer areas in northern Iran. The Indian Embassy in Tehran also acted quickly to protect Indian nationals.
On Tuesday, the Embassy arranged buses to move students from various universities to secure locations. All Indian students, including those living in hostels or private apartments, were picked up from Gate No. 2, Velenjak.
This included many from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The Embassy clearly instructed that no Indian student should stay back in the hostels or private lodgings.
Among those stranded in Iran are about 1,500 students from Kashmir. In total, several thousand Indians remain stuck in the country.
The evacuation is taking place as the conflict worsens. Israel has attacked Iran’s nuclear sites and killed top Iranian military officials and scientists. In response, Iran has fired hundreds of missiles at Israel, damaging military bases and key infrastructure.
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