Indian Medical Students in Iran Urge Government for Urgent Evacuation Amid Airstrikes

Desperate Pleas from Stranded Students
Imtisal Mohidin, a 22-year-old third-year MBBS student at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, recounted his harrowing experience of waking up at 2:30 am to the sound of explosions. He, along with hundreds of Indian medical students, is currently trapped in Iran as Israeli airstrikes intensify. With the blasts occurring just a few kilometers from their residences, the fear among students is escalating, prompting urgent calls for evacuation from the Indian government.
Mohidin, who hails from Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir, shared that over 350 Indian students are enrolled at his university. "We are confined to our apartment's basement, hearing blasts every night. One explosion was alarmingly close, just 5 km away. We haven't had any sleep for three days," he expressed. Classes at the university have been suspended, and students are refraining from going outside due to the ongoing shelling. Notably, three Iranian nuclear scientists who lost their lives in the recent attacks were also alumni of Shahid Beheshti University.
The students are appealing to the Indian government for immediate evacuation before the situation deteriorates further. While the Indian Embassy in Iran has been in contact and provided helplines, Mohidin emphasized their fear and desire to return home. The embassy has advised Indian nationals to stay indoors and follow official updates. In a recent advisory, they encouraged individuals to join a Telegram group for real-time information, specifically for Indians currently in Iran.
Faizan Nabi, another third-year MBBS student at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, noted that while Kerman is relatively safer than Tehran, anxiety is rising. "We heard gunshots in our city today. My friends in Tehran are terrified. We were advised to stock up on drinking water for several days, which shows how dire the situation is," he stated.
Faizan, a resident of Srinagar, shared the distressing reality of receiving numerous calls from his worried parents. "The internet is so slow that I can barely send a WhatsApp message. We came here to pursue our medical careers, but now our priority is survival," he lamented. Midhat, a fourth-year MBBS student at Iran University of Medical Science, described the first night of airstrikes as the most terrifying. "The blasts were alarmingly close. Everyone was in a panic. My family constantly checks on me, and we are glued to the news," she said, adding that while the Indian Embassy has reached out via WhatsApp, her university has not provided much assistance.
With the skies over Iran closed and no clear end to the violence in sight, these students are left waiting for the only solution they believe will bring peace to their families: a flight back home.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Sunday that the Indian Embassy in Tehran is closely monitoring the escalating security situation. They are in regular communication with Indian students to ensure their safety and are relocating some students to safer locations within Iran.