Iran on Monday allowed foreign nationals to leave the country amid the ongoing fighting with Israel for the fourth consecutive day. Sources said that India has spoken to the Ambassador of Armenia in Iran for the evacuation of its students.
The students will be evacuated by buses from the Noruduz checkpoint on the Armenia border. About 10,000 Indians, including 1,500 students, are stranded in Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that in the current situation, even though the airports of the country are closed, the land borders are open.
Before leaving Iran, foreign nationals will have to provide their name, passport number, vehicle details, time of departure from the country and the border they want to go to. The information will have to be provided to the General Protocol Department of Iran through diplomatic missions.
Indian students will reach border adjoining Armenia
Indian students from different cities of Iran will reach the Noruduz border adjoining Armenia. From here they can be taken to Yerevan Airport in Armenia by bus. After this, these students will be brought to India by air route.
A Kashmiri student had asked for help from J&K Governor
A Kashmiri student studying in Iran had made a video and asked for help from Jammu and Kashmir Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The situation between Iran and Israel is quite tense at the moment. Attacks have taken place in many cities and there is a security threat. In such a situation, it is not possible to airlift Indian students directly from Iran at the moment. There are some big reasons behind this.
Most of Iran's international airports are closed
Most of Iran's international airports are currently closed for civilian flights. Due to war-like conditions, it is not safe to fly flights from there.
There have been Israeli attacks in many areas of Iran. There is a threat of attack on flights as well.
The Norduz border is considered safe. The situation in Armenia is stable and flights can be easily operated from there.
Long lines of cars at petrol pumps
The situation in Iran has worsened due to the Israeli attack that has been going on for the last 3 days. Long lines of cars have started forming at the petrol pumps in the city and even after standing in the queue many times, it is difficult to get petrol, because the supply of fuel is limited.
According to officials, more than 200 people have lost their lives in Tehran alone. A resident of Tehran said that people do not have any safe place to escape the bombing. There is no shelter in the entire city where people can run and save their lives.
Many people are heading north to the Caspian Sea, a relatively quiet and remote area, but the roads are so jammed that it is difficult to even reach there.
Israel warned on Sunday that people living near weapons-manufacturing areas should leave immediately because the danger could increase further.
Prakash Kumar Pandey