Sleepless nights & sirens: City student recounts return from war-hit Israel

Time of India

25-06-2025

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Patna: For over 10 agonising days, 30-year-old Shagoofa Ali, pursuing her PhD at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker campus in Israel, lived under the shadow of war, far away from the comforts of home and her loved ones in Patna.
Now safely back with her family, she recalls the fear, chaos, and uncertainty that defined her days and nights in Israel amid the escalating conflict with Iran.
"It was a nightmare I never want to live again," she said, her voice still trembling from the memory of those relentless days starting June 13.
"In Israel, we have the 'Home Command App' on our phones for real-time alerts. Every time a siren went off, we had barely a minute to run into the shelter," she recalled.
"These bomb-proof rooms were our only lifeline in such times designed to shield us from deadly missile strikes," she said.
Each shelter, she said, is built to accommodate around 20-25 people and comes equipped with basic necessities like drinking water and a washroom. But no infrastructure can ease the terror of war. "It was emotionally and mentally exhausting," she said. "The sirens came at all hours, disrupting everything—work and sleep.
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Sometimes, we could see the missile interceptions right in the sky and feel the vibrations. It felt like the ground itself had been struck.
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Since June 13, Shagoofa, who graduated from Patna Science College in 2015, said, sleep became a luxury. "My nights were spent half-awake, anticipating the next alarm. Panic was everywhere. People were constantly anxious. No one knew what the next minute might bring," she said.
Despite the turmoil, some basic services—food, electricity, and mobile network—were available. "That was a huge relief, especially because I could stay in touch with my family. But even that contact couldn't ease their fears. They were extremely worried," said.
This was not her first brush with war. "I was there during the Oct 2023 attacks too. Although the place I lived was historically considered one of the safest, fear never left you in such situations," she said.
Shagoofa's return was made possible through the Indian govt's evacuation mission, 'Operation Sindhu'. On June 19, she received an advisory from the Indian embassy instructing her to fill out a form for evacuation. What followed was a physically and emotionally draining journey.
"We arranged a bus to Tel Aviv on our own. From there, the embassy coordinated our travel to Jordan. It was a long ride, and then a seven-hour flight awaited us," she said.
"When we reached Jordan on June 23, we heard that the airspace had been closed. Our hearts sank," she recalled.
But the Indian govt intervened. "They made a special request, and finally, we boarded the flight back home. I cannot express how emotional that moment was—just knowing I was safe and going back to my family," she added.
"I am thankful to the Govt of India for everything—for looking after our visas, arranging transportation, ensuring food and safety, and helping us cross the border without panic. They made sure we were never left alone," she said.