Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jun 16: As Israeli airstrikes intensify across Iran, panic has gripped hundreds of Indian medical students stranded in various Iranian cities, with many urgently pleading for evacuation. Over 350 Indian students at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, where classes have now been suspended, are taking shelter in basements, fearing for their lives.

“I woke up at 2:30 am on Friday to loud explosions and rushed to the basement. We haven’t slept since,” said Imtisal Mohidin, a third-year MBBS student from Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. He told ANI that a blast occurred just 5 km from their hostel.

The fear is not limited to the capital. Faizan Nabi, a first-year student at Kerman University, said even relatively calmer regions are witnessing gunfire. “We were advised to store water for 3-4 days. I get 10 calls a day from my parents, but the internet is too slow to respond quickly,” said Faizan, a resident of Srinagar.

Midhat, a fourth-year student from Sopore studying at Iran University of Medical Science, described the first night of the strikes as “the most horrifying.” “We’re constantly hearing blasts and monitoring news. My family keeps checking on me,” she said.

With Iran’s airspace restricted due to the escalating conflict, students are growing increasingly anxious. Most are staying indoors, relying on updates and advisories from the Indian Embassy in Tehran, which has circulated emergency helpline numbers and a Telegram group for Indian nationals.

“We request the Government of India to evacuate us before the situation worsens,” said Mohidin. Though the embassy is in touch via WhatsApp, students claim their universities have done little to ensure their safety.

As the region inches closer to a full-blown conflict, Indian students say their dream of becoming doctors has now turned into a desperate struggle to stay alive.