Kashmiri students face travel hardships after evacuation from war-hit Iran

Suhail Bhat

SRINAGAR, June 22: Kashmiri students evacuated from war-hit Iran under Operation Sindhu continue to face travel hardships, as yet another bus developed a mechanical fault today, leaving them stranded on Jalandhar-Pathankot highway for over three hours.

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One of the three buses carrying nearly 30 students from Delhi to Kashmir broke down due to a technical snag, causing further distress to the already-exhausted students.
A student told Excelsior that the bus developed technical snag last night near Jalandhar and it took three hours to rectify it. “We are still on the way and are travelling for last 26 hours from Delhi,” she said.
Confirming the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Students Association president Nasir Khuehami told Excelsior, “Yes, the bus ran into some mechanical issues that halted the journey for a while, but it was resolved.”
The students had returned to Delhi aboard Mahan Air flight W50071A from Mashhad, Iran, which brought back over 280 Indian students – more than 200 of them from Jammu and Kashmir.
“Their safe return brings immense relief and emotional solace to families who spent sleepless nights in fear and uncertainty. These students endured days of distress in war-torn Iran and have finally returned to their homeland,” the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said in a statement.
This marks the second such incident in two consecutive days.
On Saturday, another bus carrying 14 Kashmiri girl students broke down twice – first on the Pathankot highway and then again near the Nashri Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. “The same bus has broken down six times,” the Association posted on X, calling the situation a “complete collapse of responsibility.”
The girls, who had already traveled over 2,000 km by road in Iran followed by a long flight, are now facing trauma on Indian soil. “The clutch plate is damaged. Despite assurances, no replacement has arrived. Worse, students allege the driver is under the influence of alcohol. The girls are being forced to walk at 2:30 am whenever the bus approaches an incline,” the post said.
“They are in tears, emotionally broken and physically exhausted. Is this the welcome we offer our daughters after surviving a warzone?” it added, appealing to J&K’s political leadership for urgent intervention.
Earlier, several students had raised concerns over poor travel arrangements made by the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
Another Mahan air flight carrying around 230 students from Iran’s Mashhad airport, the majority of whom are Kashmiri, is scheduled to land at New Delhi at 11:20 pm tonight.
Meanwhile, the Students Association said over 700 Kashmiri students stranded across various parts of Iran are safe and awaiting evacuation.
Nasir Khuehami, the National Convener of the Association, said that efforts are underway to move the students to Mashhad and the Armenia border for onward airlifting to Delhi. “The Indian Embassy is coordinating with MEA officials to ensure their safe and smooth evacuation,” he said.

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