The JKSA expressed concern as airstrikes in Urmia, Iran, caused panic among Indian students. A strike near dorms has led to calls for EAM S Jaishankar to facilitate their immediate relocation to safer areas amid escalating tensions.
The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Tuesday expressed grave concern following fresh airstrikes in the city of Urmia in northwestern Iran, which have triggered widespread panic and fear among Indian students studying there.
Tense Situation on the Ground
In a statement issued, National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the Association has been in direct communication with several Kashmiri students enrolled at Urmia University. According to the students, the latest strike occurred approximately 300 meters from their boys' dormitories, and the force of the explosion was so intense that it shook the entire building, causing alarm and deep distress.
"The situation on the ground is extremely tense and volatile. Students are frightened, anxious, and deeply distressed. They have informed us that fighter jets can be heard almost every hour, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and uncertainty," Khuehami said. He further noted that several residents in nearby neighbourhoods have begun leaving the city and moving towards safer outskirts amid fears of further escalation.
Heightened Anxiety Among Students and Parents
The prevailing environment in Urmia is marked by panic, confusion, and mounting psychological strain, particularly among foreign students who are far away from their families.
The ongoing airstrikes have significantly intensified anxiety among students, many of whom report severe emotional distress and uncertainty regarding their safety. Parents back home are equally anxious as the security situation continues to deteriorate.
Urgent Appeal for Government Intervention
In view of the rapidly worsening circumstances, the Association has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take immediate and decisive measures to facilitate the relocation of Indian students, particularly those from the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, to safer locations until a full-fledged evacuation operation is formally launched.
Alternate Evacuation Routes Explored
JKSA has also called upon the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Embassy of India in Tehran to urgently assess the ground situation and initiate structured relocation measures. The Association has requested that students be shifted to safer cities within Iran at the earliest, pending full-scale evacuation once airspace conditions permit. Considering Armenia's geographical proximity to Urmia, JKSA has further urged the Government of India to explore the possibility of facilitating emergency transit visas or coordinated safe-passage arrangements.
Khuehami emphasised that swift, structured, and proactive intervention at this critical juncture can help avert a potential humanitarian crisis and provide much-needed reassurance to anxious families. "Timely relocation, clear communication, and contingency planning are essential to safeguard the physical safety and psychological well-being of these young students who find themselves caught in an increasingly volatile conflict environment," he added. (ANI)
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