Following complaints over poor transport arrangements for Kashmiri students evacuated from war-hit Iran, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed officials to arrange deluxe buses for their journey home.

At least 110 Indian students, including 94 from Kashmir, were evacuated from Iran and arrived in New Delhi on Thursday. The evacuation involved transit through Armenia and Qatar, with students first moved to Armenia and then flown to Doha before reaching India.

Upon their arrival in Delhi, buses were arranged for the Kashmiri students’ onward travel to the Union Territory. However, several students expressed dismay over the condition of the vehicles.

Indian students returning from Iran via Armenia, under an evacuation operation facilitated by the Government of India, react as they meet their relatives while exiting from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi, Thursday, June 19, 2025. 110 students from Kashmir Valley reached New Delhi early Thursday

Indian students returning from Iran via Armenia, under an evacuation operation facilitated by the Government of India, react as they meet their relatives while exiting from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in New Delhi, Thursday, June 19, 2025. 110 students from Kashmir Valley reached New Delhi early Thursday | Photo Credit: PTI

“We have been travelling for days from country to country and are exhausted. The buses provided are in poor condition,” a female student told reporters in Delhi.

The complaints prompted a response from the Chief Minister, who instructed the Resident Commissioner in Delhi to coordinate with JKRTC for proper transportation.

“The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J&K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged” the Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.

The road journey from Delhi to Srinagar spans nearly 816 km and takes around 18 to 20 hours.

Earlier, the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed in a separate post that 94 Kashmiri students had returned safely and that efforts were underway to facilitate their return to the Valley.

Around 1,300 and 1,500 students from Jammu and Kashmir are currently enrolled in various universities across Iran, pursuing professional courses in cities across the country.

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, including missile exchanges, families of the students urged the government to initiate immediate evacuation measures.

The appeals prompted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the matter with India’s Ministry of External Affairs, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the safety of the students. 

Published on June 20, 2025