Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Two students from Bhopal studying medicine in Tehran are stuck in Iran amid rising tension and missile attacks. Their parents are spending sleepless nights worrying for their safety.
The students were shifted from Tehran to Qom — about 140 km south of the capital — by the Indian Embassy on June 15. From Qom, they are now reportedly travelling by road to Iran’s border with Armenia, roughly 1,100 km away, hoping to fly back to India.
On the night of April 13, the students woke up to explosions and fighter jets roaring overhead. They saw drones and missiles being intercepted and nearby buildings on fire. Medical Officer Dr. Ehsan Azmi from Bhopal’s HSZG Government Unani Medical College said his daughter, Areej Ehsan, a first-year MBBS student at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, was unable to sleep due to constant sounds of missiles and fighter aircraft.
He has not been able to talk to her for two days as she has switched off her phone to save battery. “From Qom, the students have been moved to an undisclosed location. They will probably travel by road to the Armenian border and then fly home,” he said, hoping for her return in the next 3-4 days.
Dr. Azmi said the Indian Embassy and the Iran-based Indian Medical Students’ Association have played key role in the evacuation. “I emailed the Iranian Embassy in India, the Indian Embassy in Iran and the Ministry of External Affairs for safe evacuation,” he said, adding his family is praying for Areej’s safe return.
Similarly, Dr. Shahid Khan, medical officer at Unani Shifakhana, Bhopal, said his son Mohd Haris Khan, a fourth-year MBBS student at the same university, was terrified and panicky. “When missiles fly over your head, panic is natural,” he said.
He said students had food, waterand decent accommodation at Qom. The students are worried about their safety and future career. They have been advised not to share photos or locations for security reasons. “What can we do? We can only pray for his safe return,” Dr. Khan said.
