NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Over 100 Indian students, including 90 from Jammu and Kashmir, are set to arrive in New Delhi late Wednesday after being evacuated from Iran, which has been rocked by a surge in violence following a weeklong exchange of airstrikes between Iran and Israel.
The students had been studying at Urmia Medical University in northwestern Iran when tensions between the two countries escalated. According to visuals shared by news outlets and social media posts from students, the group boarded a connecting IndiGo flight from Doha and is scheduled to land in Delhi at 10:15 p.m.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) confirmed in a statement that the students crossed into Armenia before being flown home as part of a government-led evacuation effort. The group expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for organizing the operation and supporting anxious families back home.
“We deeply appreciate this effort to ensure a smooth, full journey home,” JKSA said in a post on X.
The Indian government has covered all travel expenses for the students, including domestic flights from Delhi to Srinagar, JKSA added. The students’ body also stated that it remains hopeful that the remaining Indian students still in Iran will be evacuated soon.
India’s evacuation comes during a dangerous and fast-evolving conflict in the Middle East. On Wednesday, Israel said it had struck a nuclear facility near Tehran in a pre-dawn airstrike, the Times of Israel reported. In response, Iranian forces reportedly launched hypersonic missiles, escalating what has already become one of the region’s most intense exchanges in recent years.
Israel claimed that more than 50 of its fighter jets hit multiple weapons manufacturing sites in the Tehran area. Earlier, it had warned civilians to leave parts of the capital for their safety.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a warning to the United States following remarks from President Donald Trump. Khamenei said any U.S. military strike would lead to “serious irreparable consequences.” Trump, while denying the U.S. had aided Israel in the campaign, cautioned that his patience with Iran was “wearing thin.”
The violence erupted last Friday when Israel began its bombing campaign in response to Iranian missile threats, sparking near-daily retaliatory strikes between the two countries. The long-range attacks and mounting security threats prompted the Indian Embassy in Iran to act swiftly.
According to Nasir Khuehami, the JKSA national convenor, the Indian consulate in Bandar Abbas reached out to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences on Tuesday. The consulate requested permission for 11 Indian students to travel from the campus to the city of Yazd, assuring the university that it would take full responsibility for their safe movement.
This coordination was part of broader evacuation planning by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which has monitored the deteriorating situation closely over the past week. Students had earlier reported growing fears about their safety due to air raid sirens and military activity near their campuses.
Wednesday’s arrival of the first group of Indian evacuees offers relief to families across India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. Many parents had been pleading for action amid growing fears for their children’s safety.
The operation, coordinated with local authorities and foreign missions, underscores India’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad during global crises. Government officials have not yet announced when additional evacuations will take place, but sources say efforts are ongoing to ensure no student is left behind.
