Indian students in Iran relocated to safer places, some stay on

New Delhi: Indian students stranded in Iran have been relocated to safer places, the Indian embassy in Tehran said on Tuesday amid heightened security concerns in the region.The embassy, however, noted that a small number of students declined its offer of relocation and continue to remain in Tehran. There was no clarity on the reasons for their decision.
Those who agreed to move have reportedly been relocated to Qom as a precautionary measure, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), which has been in touch with the students and coordinating their return home.In an advisory, the embassy said that due to the "heightened risk perception" in Tehran, most Indian students have been shifted outside the city. The mission said it arranged for their transportation, food and accommodation.JKSA national convenor Nasir Khuehami said the association remains in constant contact with students and their families. "All the students who have been relocated are safe and accounted for. We are continuously coordinating with the authorities and monitoring the situation closely," he said.Reiterating its earlier advisory for Indian nationals still in Iran, the embassy urged them to remain indoors as far as possible, stay away from windows, exercise due caution at all times, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, and remain in regular contact with the mission. Emergency helpline numbers and an official email address have also been issued for assistance.Indian students stranded in Urmia have expressed fear over their safety after fresh airstrikes near the university's residential block triggered panic among those staying in the dormitories, with videos of the shaken buildings and distressed students surfacing on social media. JKSA has appealed to govt to relocate the students and facilitate transit to neighbouring Armenia, given its proximity to Urmia, until evacuation becomes possible once airspace conditions permit.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !