Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, June 23: Amid intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, a group of 16 medical students from Karnataka, stranded near Tehran, have returned home safely — and are now recounting the terrifying moments they endured during the escalating war.
The students, who had gone to Iran for their MBBS studies, arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Sunday morning, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Indian Embassy, Central Government, and State authorities.
Among them were several students from Gauribidanur in Chikkaballapur district, who had been studying at Shahid Beheshti University, located close to Tehran. The situation turned critical when missile attacks began near their residence.
'We’ll never forget June 13, 3:30 pm'
Syed Mohsin Raza, a second-semester MBBS student from Alipur, recalled the harrowing night: “Friday evening was one of the darkest nights we’ve ever witnessed. On June 13 at 3:30 pm, missiles struck just 1 km away from our hostel. The explosions were deafening — we first thought it was thunder. When we realised it was a missile attack, we were paralysed with fear.”
"Even at that distance, the shockwaves were so intense that windows shattered and walls cracked. We saw the missile defense systems in action. Though the Indian Embassy was nearby, we couldn’t reach it due to the danger, so we called them for help,” he said.
'We believed we wouldn’t survive the night'
Syeda Faiz Zainab, who was residing in Tehran’s 6th district, recounted how their lives were reduced to fear and uncertainty. “We were told to stock food for 15 days and not step outside. Even the slightest sound would send us running to the ground floor for shelter. The sounds of bombs and explosions around our building became routine. One day, both WhatsApp and Telegram stopped working, and we lost all contact with our families. We were convinced we wouldn’t survive — it truly felt like our last night alive.”
Indian Embassy steps in
By Saturday, the situation worsened. Due to sleepless nights, constant explosions, and panic, the Indian Embassy intervened. The students were first moved to Qom and Yazd, where food and accommodation were arranged. However, tensions soon spread to those cities as well.
“Eventually, we were relocated to Mashhad. Initially, there were plans to move us through the border by land, but due to difficulties, once the airspace reopened, we were flown out safely,” the students said.
They expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Embassy, saying, “The embassy officials treated us like their own children. They cared for us 24/7, ensured our safety, and stood by us in every way.”
The students also thanked prime minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar for their timely intervention.
'Our education must not stop'
While relieved to be back, the students urged the Iranian authorities to facilitate the completion of their education, which has been interrupted due to the conflict. “We are safe in our homeland now, but we don’t want our education to suffer,” they appealed.
150 Indians still stranded in Iran
Arathi Krishna, vice-chairperson of the Karnataka NRI Forum, confirmed that around 40 to 50 students from Karnataka have returned so far, including 22 to 25 from Gauribidanur. Others hail from Alipur, Chikkaballapur, T Narasipura, Mysuru, and Bengaluru.
She added that around 150 more Indians are still stranded in Iran. “More batches will be brought back in phases. Two flights are expected to bring back more citizens on Monday,” she confirmed.