Kolkata: The ongoing war between Israel and Iran is showing no sign of slowing down, and the Centre is doing everything to bring back the Indians stranded in those countries. So far, more than 100 students have been evacuated from Iran, with 90 students belonging to Jammu and Kashmir. Students from Jammu and Kashmir slammed the Omar Abdullah-led administration for providing poorly maintained buses for their journey from Delhi to their hometowns. To many of them, the conditions of the buses were “unsafe and disappointing”.
The students expressed their disappointment with the condition of the buses provided and said they expected better facilities after returning to the country from a war-torn land. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association took to the X (formerly Twitter) and shared a video that shows the poor condition of buses arranged for students returning from Iran.
The association wrote in a post, “After enduring a harrowing 4-day journey from Iran via Armenia & Doha, Kashmiri students have finally reached Delhi, only to be dumped in SRTC buses, unlike students from other states who were received with proper airport facilitation, care, and connecting flights home.”
After enduring a harrowing 4-day journey from Iran via Armenia & Doha, Kashmiri students have finally reached Delhi, only to be dumped in SRTC buses, unlike students from other states who were received with proper airport facilitation, care, and connecting flights home. @ANI pic.twitter.com/6fSkaqLaje
— J&K Students Association (@JKSTUDENTSASSO) June 19, 2025
The association also said in a separate post, “Exhausted, distressed, and neglected. Is this the reward for their resilience? What’s stopping the J&K Govt from stepping up? Logistics? Willpower? Or just apathy? If it’s about funds, say it loud, we’ll launch a fundraiser for the JK Govt. We’ve done more with less before.”
Exhausted, distressed, and neglected. is this the reward for their resilience? What’s stopping the J&K Govt from stepping up? Logistics? Willpower? Or just apathy? If it’s about funds, say it loud, we’ll launch a fundraiser for the JK Govt. We’ve done more with less before.
— J&K Students Association (@JKSTUDENTSASSO) June 19, 2025
Many of the students expressed frustration at the quality of buses arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir government. According to a report by the Indian Express, one student said, “We hadn’t felt we would have any issue as we were to go home, and the state government would take care of it further. But, the buses being provided are in such a bad condition. Two hours back, CM Omar Abdullah tweeted about this, but nothing has happened yet.”
Another student, as per the report, was more severe in criticising the J&K government and said the conditions of the buses were so poor “that even animals will not travel in them”. The student added, “We are here (in Delhi) and for that, we are thankful to the central government as they have evacuated us smoothly, we faced no problem till here, but we are having a problem here now.”
The response of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
The office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to X and said, “The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J&K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged.”
The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J&K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged.
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) June 19, 2025
Nasir Khuehami, convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Union said, “Approximately 110 Indian students from Urmia Medical University, including 90 from the Kashmir Valley, and others from different Indian states, successfully crossed the border into Armenia on Tuesday. We have spoken to the students, who safely reached the Armenian capital, Yerevan, and were accommodated at their designated hotels.”
