Srinagar, March 4 — Kashmiri students studying in Iran’s Urmia city have appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for evacuation after an explosion struck just 300 metres from their dormitory, as hostilities in the region intensify.
“The situation has not been good at all for the last few days. Here in Urmia, attacks are taking place continuously. About one hour ago, an explosion happened just 300 metres from our dormitory,” said Labeeb Qadri, a final-year MBBS student from Srinagar studying at Urmia University of Medical Sciences, speaking over the phone.
He said another strike had occurred outside their dormitory earlier in the day.
Around 110 Indian students — nearly 50 boys and a similar number of girls — are currently staying in dormitories in the city centre, according to Qadri.
“Everyone asks why we didn’t leave Iran when the advisory was issued, but most of the students had tickets for February 28 and March 6. In Iran, only one or two flights operate to India per week, so we couldn’t leave earlier,” he said.
“We are requesting the Indian embassy to evacuate us from Armenia, if it is possible, as it is a safer option for us to reach there,” he added.
The conflict began last Saturday following coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes in which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported killed. Since then, attacks and counter-attacks have escalated across several Iranian cities.
Qadri said students are now relying entirely on the Indian Embassy for guidance. “Right now, they have told us there is no possible way to get out, so it’s better to stay indoors. Whatever the embassy tells us, we are going to follow that,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the region are in continuous contact with Indian citizens and that helplines have been activated.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the MEA to facilitate the relocation of Indian students to safer areas within Iran until a full evacuation becomes feasible.
“We are not asking for panic-driven decisions, but for preventive and protective action. These students are living under constant fear. Immediate relocation to safer zones within Iran is essential before the situation worsens further,” said JKSA national convenor Nasir Khuehami.
“The situation on the ground is extremely tense and volatile. Students are frightened, anxious, and deeply distressed. They have informed us that fighter jets can be heard almost every hour, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and uncertainty,” he said.
Khuehami added that residents in nearby neighbourhoods have begun moving towards the outskirts amid fears of further escalation. “The prevailing environment in Urmia is marked by panic, confusion, and mounting psychological strain, particularly among foreign students who are far away from their families,” he said.
The association has called on the MEA and the Embassy of India in Tehran to urgently assess the ground situation and initiate structured relocation measures, including shifting students to safer Iranian cities until airspace conditions allow a full-scale evacuation.
Considering Armenia’s proximity to Urmia, JKSA has also urged the government to explore emergency transit visas or coordinated safe-passage arrangements.
“Timely relocation, clear communication, and contingency planning are essential to safeguard the physical safety and psychological well-being of these young students who find themselves caught in an increasingly volatile conflict environment,” Khuehami added.