Srinagar, June 20 (UNI) At least 94 students from Jammu and Kashmir, part of the first batch of Indian nationals evacuated from war-hit Iran, have safely returned to the Valley.



As families breathe a sigh of relief, many parents whose children are still stranded in Iran have urged the Central government to expedite evacuation efforts. They have appealed for an increase in the number of daily rescue flights, stressing the need to bring back the remaining students still stranded in the conflict zone.



The Jammu and Kashmir Student Association (JKSA) said on Friday that 94 students from Jammu and Kashmir, who were evacuated safely, returned home.



The first batch of 110 Indian evacuated students — including 94 from Jammu and Kashmir — landed in Delhi late Wednesday night. The students, all enrolled at Urmia Medical University, were evacuated through Armenia and Doha.



According to the JKSA, while several students reached the Valley on Thursday, the remaining batch — who were traveling in deluxe buses from New Delhi — arrived earlier today, bringing relief to families who had been anxiously awaiting their return.

"We are grateful to the Ministry of External Affairs and all those involved in ensuring their safe and timely return. The successful evacuation marks a relief for their families back home, who were anxiously awaiting their arrival, " JKSA said.



Out of the 94 students, over 30 were from Jammu region.



The students on their return praised the Centre for their safe evacuation and provision of free boarding and transport facilities. They however, complained that J&K government had not made adequate arrangements from Delhi to Srinagar.



“We were already exhausted after the four-day journey from Iran. When we saw the buses in Delhi, we felt bad. Some of us, including me, booked air tickets ,” Saba Rasool, a fourth-year medical student in Iran, said in Srinagar.



Following the complaints, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened and deluxe buses were arranged for the students from Delhi to Srinagar.



Another student on return home said the evacuated students from other places of the country were provided better facilities by the respective states.



“The onward arrangements from Delhi were not satisfactory. First we were made to wait at Delhi for transport. When the new buses arrived they were too uncomfortable. Students from other states who arrived in Delhi had better facilities,” the student said.



Over the past two decades, Iranian universities have become a popular choice for Kashmiri students due to their affordability. Iran currently hosts more than 4,000 Indian students, nearly half of whom are from Jammu and Kashmir, with the majority pursuing medical degrees.



Meanwhile, a large number of Kashmiri students are still stranded in different cities of Iran which has triggered panic among the parents



A parent said that in the last eight days, students of only one college were evacuated.



“Most of the students are still awaiting their evacuation. The students are stranded at Mashhad near Turkmenistan border, Rasht Caspian sea and other locations. We appeal to MEA to immediately interfere and evacuate these students from Iran as the situation is worsening day by day there,” said a parent..



He added that these students are continuously travelling from one place to another for the last six days from Tehran to Qom and Qom to Mashaad.



“The evacuation process is very slow and only one flight evacuated students so far. . We appeal to central government to operate more than two flights per day so that evacuation process can be completed within a week or shift all students Turkmenistan in safe area till flights are managed,” the parent added



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