Around 100 to board commercial flights; MEA advises Indians to leave
Srinagar, Jan 16,
Amid escalating tensions in Iran, around 100 medical students from Jammu and Kashmir are set to return home through commercial flights.
According to details available with the news agency, most students are currently at Shiraz Airport and are travelling to India via Air Arabia flight G9-214 from Shiraz to Sharjah, followed by a connecting Air Arabia flight G9-463 to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), New Delhi. The flight is scheduled to land in Delhi at 2:40 AM.
Another batch of students is departing from Tehran International Airport aboard Mahan Air flight W5-071, which is expected to arrive at IGI Airport at 12:10 AM, sources said.
They said that all students and a significant number of pilgrims are also travelling on the two flights. “The students are expected to arrive in Delhi late tonight and will proceed to Srinagar in morning flights,” sources added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid all travel to Iran and advising those already present there to leave by available means, including commercial flights.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during the weekly media briefing, said that the situation in Iran is being closely monitored and that the government will take all necessary steps to ensure the welfare of Indian citizens.
Commenting on the developments, Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir All India Medical Students Association, told news agency that around 100 students from J&K are returning amid growing concerns over safety.
Separately, Nasir Khuehami, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, said that they are in touch with the officials and the students. “We will personally inform them through official channels if evacuation becomes necessary,” he said