New Delhi, June 20: Iran has opened its otherwise closed airspace exclusively for Indian evacuation flights. At least 1,000 Indian students stranded in conflict-hit Iranian cities are expected to land in Delhi in the next two days as part of the government’s emergency evacuation programme, Operation Sindhu.
The first flight is due to land at 11:00 PM IST tonight. The second and third flights are scheduled for Saturday, one in the morning and another in the evening. The Iranian airspace remains closed to most international flights following ongoing missile exchanges and drone attacks involving Israeli and Iranian forces. India has been granted an exclusive corridor to carry out the evacuation of its students.
Meanwhile, all the students from the first batch of evacuees stranded in Iran have now safely arrived in Kashmir Valley. While some students reached yesterday, the rest, who were traveling in deluxe buses from Delhi, have also arrived today.
“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,” tweeted &K Students Association..
Earlier, 140 Kashmiri students from Tehran University were relocated to Gilan Province in Iran amid the ongoing crisis. They remain in a state of deep distress and have urgently appealed for immediate evacuation.
“The Students have been relocated to a safer place by the University Administration, but have been enduring immense mental and emotional trauma due to the ongoing uncertainty and deteriorating security situation. This is the same group in which two Kashmiri students suffered injuries after their dormitory was struck by shrapnel during a nearby airstrike,” said. Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, requesting the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to evacuate these students at the earliest and ensure their safe return home.