1,200 Kashmiri Students Trapped in Iran as War Hits Tehran

Over 1,200 Kashmiri Students in Tehran Unable to Leave as Exams Collide with Escalating War, Families Panic Amid Explosions and Closure of Airspace

Tehran, Iran: Over 1,200 Indian students, largely from Jammu and Kashmir, remain stranded in Iran as escalating conflict in the region turns cities like Tehran and Ahvaz into tense warzones. Many of these students are enrolled in medical universities, and their return has been delayed because exams scheduled for early March could not be postponed, forcing them to stay despite rising security threats.

With missile strikes and drone attacks intensifying following recent US–Israeli operations and Iran’s retaliatory actions, students report frequent explosions, restricted movement, and communication blackouts, making daily life dangerous and uncertain. Families in India have expressed deep concern, while student associations such as the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) are appealing to the Indian government for an urgent evacuation plan.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also urged students to return before the closure of airspace, emphasizing the importance of safety over academic schedules. The Indian Embassy in Iran has issued advisories urging all Indian nationals to leave by any available means, yet students say that logistical arrangements remain unclear.

For many, the dilemma is acute: safeguard their lives or risk their academic future, as cities once familiar for education now feel like an active conflict zone. With tensions showing no immediate signs of easing, families and authorities continue to scramble to ensure the safe repatriation of stranded students.