The situation in Iran is becoming very dangerous as Israeli missile and drone strikes increase. Hundreds of Indian medical students living there are scared and are urgently asking the Indian government to help evacuate them and bring them back safely to India.
One of the students, Imtisal Mohidin, who is studying medicine in Tehran at Shahid Beheshti University, shared his experience. “I woke up at 2:30 in the morning on Friday because of loud explosions. We quickly ran to the basement for safety and have not been able to sleep properly since then,” he said. Imtisal is one of more than 350 Indian students enrolled at his university. Because of the worsening situation, classes have been stopped for now to keep students safe.
Explosions have been happening very close to the places where students live and stay. Many students are forced to hide in basements during the night. Imtisal said, “We are stuck inside the basement of our apartment. The blasts are happening every night. One explosion happened just 5 kilometers away from us. It’s been three days now and we haven’t slept properly.” Imtisal is from Handwara, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The fear is not only in the capital city, Tehran. Faizan Nabi, a first-year medical student studying in Kerman, a city considered safer, said that even there people are very scared. “Today we heard gunshots in the city. My friends in Tehran are terrified. We have been told to keep enough drinking water for at least 3 to 4 days. That’s how serious the situation is,” he said.
Faizan, who is from Srinagar, shared that his parents call him many times every day because they worry about him. The internet is very slow, so even sending simple messages like on WhatsApp is difficult. Faizan said sadly, “We came to Iran to become doctors, but now all we are trying to do is stay alive.”
Another student, Midhat, who is in his fourth year of medical studies at Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, described the first night of strikes as “the most terrifying.” “The explosions were very close, just a few kilometers away. Everyone was panicking. My family keeps checking on me often. We are constantly watching the news to stay updated,” he said. Midhat is from Sopore, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The students are in a difficult position because Iran’s airports and airspace are currently restricted due to the conflict. This means they do not know when or how they will be able to return home. Most students are staying indoors and relying on information and safety instructions from the Indian Embassy in Iran.
Imtisal said, “We are pleading with the Government of India to evacuate us before the situation gets any worse. The Embassy has shared emergency helpline numbers and is trying to keep in touch, but many of us are very frightened and want to come home as soon as possible.”
The Indian Embassy has been communicating with students mainly through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, urging everyone to stay inside and remain safe. However, some students feel that their universities have not provided enough support during this scary time. Midhat added, “Most of us are scared and staying indoors. We don’t know how long this dangerous situation will continue.”
The Embassy has also set up emergency helpline numbers and encouraged Indian nationals in Iran to join a special Telegram group for regular updates and assistance.
The situation remains tense, and Indian students in Iran hope for quick help so they can safely return home from this frightening conflict zone.
