Israel-Iran conflict: Newly-wed couple from Dehradun stranded in Iran; Amroha scholars stuck too

DEHRADUN/BIJNOR: A newly married couple from the Shia-populated Balti ethnic community in Ambari village, 40 km from Dehradun, are among the Indian nationals stranded in Iran amid the US-Israeli airstrikes in that country.

The two -- Ali Haider, 24, and his wife Noor Jahan, 20 -- were pursuing Islamic studies in Qom and Ashtian cities, respectively, for the past four years.


Haider's elder brother, Shekhar Ali, 32, told TOI that they got married last Oct in Ambari. "Both hail from the same village and came home for their wedding. After spending about a month at home, they left for Iran in Nov," said Ali.

He added: "We last spoke to Haider on Tuesday night. He said that he is safe, but we couldn't contact him since then as internet is down and mobile connectivity has been heavily disrupted. We just hope both are safe."

He further shared that Haider was earlier stranded in Iran during the conflict with Israel last June. "He was then evacuated by the Indian govt and returned after a few days when the situation normalised," said Ali.

Meanwhile, at least seven scholars from Amroha's Naugawan Sadat town, who were serving at religious institutions in Iran, were also reported stuck in the beleaguered nation.

These included Maulana Aamir, Maulana Atif, Maulana Naeem Abbas, Maulana Rooh Ullah, Maulana Asif and Maulana Syed Ahmad Shams.

Rooh Ullah's mother said that she spoke with him over the phone Sunday morning "for about a minute". "Internet services are down and he said that he could hear sounds of loud explosions. Everyone is scared and praying," she added.