‘Treated us like family': Indian students from Iran arrive at Delhi airport, hail embassy support
Arshi Haider has not been able to sleep for the last four days. In the wee hours of an unusually humid Thursday, she sits on a thin ledge in front of the Arrivals Gate Number 4 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, waiting tirelessly for an important passenger to arrive — it is her 21-year old son Maaz Haider, who is currently in his first year of medical education at the Urmia University in Iran.
Maaz is among the 110 Indian students on the first flight reaching India after they were evacuated from Iran as part of Operation Sindhu. Indigo flight 6E 9487 which is carrying the students from Armenia to Delhi via Qatar was scheduled to arrive at late night on Wednesday itself but was postponed to around 3.30 am Thursday morning.
Haider and Arshi, Maaz's parents are not the only ones who have been waiting.
Naseem, 70 is also at the airport, waiting for her maternal grandson, Sameer, along with Sameer's parents and aunts and uncles and cousins. The entire family takes chances sitting on luggage trolley available in front of the gate.
When students finally arrived, parents take a sigh of relief and scramble to find their kids. But Arshi is unable to find her Maaz in the crowd. Eventually a friend of Maaz tells her that he maybe headed to another gate; Arshi, who has been waiting for more than five hours now, sprints to the other gate.
Meanwhile, Tamheed Islam, 24, a final-year MBBS student from Urmia, Iran, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, was among the first students to come out of the gate.
Describing the conditions in Iran, he said, 'Urmia was relatively safe, but other areas were more dangerous. We did see some missiles and drones.'
He praised the role of the Indian authorities: 'The Indian embassy and Ministry of External Affairs were very good. They were coordinating with us and remained in touch throughout.'
Mariam Rose, 24, who hails from Delhi's Trilokpuri says she was not scared at all. 'I was in constant touch with my family and were seeing updates on the internet. So we were not scared at all,' she said. The first thing she did was hug her mother.
25-year old Muskaan Shabir recounts an experience that she will remember all her life. At the Armenian border, they found out that four people had some visa or passport issues.'Three guys had some visa issue and one person's passport had some issue. At that time, we thought the visa issue would be resolved but none of us thought that the passport problem could be resolved. We thought we would have to leave him back,' Shabir, an MBBS student who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, said.
'But the Indian embassy officials said they will get it resolved and if necessary, they will accompany him to Tehran to get the issue resolved. Tehran is a 15-hour drive. But thankfully, that didn't happen and the issue was solved on the spot by embassy people. All of us were so happy when we saw that person cross the border,' Shabir recounted, and added that embassy officials treated them like they had known them for years, 'like family'.
But with no flights arranged for them to take them back home in Kashmir, Shabir has just one disappointment on landing in Delhi: 'We are jet lagged, sleep deprived and exhausted. Now they are telling us that we have to take a bus to Kashmir? How can they expect us to take a 20-hour bus which is not even a sleeper bus?' Shabir asks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Rs 160 for hotel room in Vietnam? Indian man's viral booking sparks theories online, user says ‘that's cheaper than a coffee'
An Indian traveller snagged an unbelievable hotel deal in Vietnam, paying just Rs 159.02 for a night at Leaf Hotel Phu Quoc. The rock-bottom price, complete with Wi-Fi and other amenities, has sparked disbelief and speculation online. Experts suggest it could be a revenue management error, intense competition, or OTAs absorbing commission costs. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What's the deal? Too good to be true? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What could really be going on? An Indian traveller's hotel booking in Vietnam has gone viral, and for good reason, he paid just Rs 159.02 for a night's stay, taxes included. The unbelievable deal has left people on social media both stunned and traveller, who shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter), booked a Superior Double or Twin Room at Leaf Hotel Phu Quoc . The room included free Wi-Fi, parking, 24-hour check-in, and even the option of a queen bed, all for less than the price of a priced at Rs 578.24, the room got a massive 75% discount, bringing the base cost down to just Rs 144.56. After adding taxes and fees of Rs 14.46, the final amount came to Rs 159.02. The platform confirmed that the amount would be charged in Vietnamese Dong, around 48,000 VND, and includes people online had questions. Some called it a possible 'revenue management mistake' by the hotel. Others felt it might be part of a fierce pricing war among hotels in Phu Quoc, a popular beach destination with plenty of budget user joked, 'Itne mein toh coffee bhi na mile' (You won't get a coffee for this much). Another said, 'There's a high chance they'll cancel it when you reach the hotel.'Industry insiders chimed in. One pointed out that online travel agencies (OTAs) often eat a part of the cost as commission, in this case, estimated to be around Rs 28.62, meaning the hotel might only get Rs 130, including believe it's simply a case of too much supply and not enough demand, leading to a 'race to the bottom' in hotel the reason, the internet can't stop talking about this oddly cheap room. Whether it was a lucky find or a pricing glitch, it's got everyone dreaming of a budget trip to Vietnam.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Opportunity beckons Gill and his band of brothers to create magic
The Queens Hotel is listed as a minute's stroll from the Leeds railway station, in the heart of the city centre. It's the Indian team's abode for the duration of its stay ahead of and during the first Test against England, starting on Friday. Long-term employees of the hotel insist that the throng of people hanging around the hotel, hoping desperately to catch a glimpse of the Indian players, has perhaps never been so thin. There is a certain lack of buzz that is unmistakable; several locals of Asian origin aren't even aware there is a Test match imminent at Headingley. Much of that apathy, if that's the right word, in the lead-up to the latest five-Test showdown between the sides can be put down to the absence from the touring party of Rohit Sharma and his immediate predecessor as the captain, Virat Kohli. The latter, especially, is a darling of the masses here with his arresting personality and his excellent record while there is great love and respect for Rohit, not least because of the five hundreds he unleashed in the 2019 50-over World Cup. It's not that Indian fans have written off their team's chances even before a ball has been bowled. The current lack of overwhelming interest stems from a certain disappointment at the Kohli-Rohit no-show, and the fact that when it comes to the popularity stakes, no one apart from possibly Jasprit Bumrah is in the same league now, with due respect to Rishabh Pant. That India are bang in the middle of transition in the five-day format is hardly in doubt. The unsuccessful tour of Australia, where they were beaten 1-3 over the winter despite bossing the opening exchange in Perth, marked the final Test appearances not just of Rohit and Kohli, but also that giant of an off-spinner, R. Ashwin. Between them, this trio boasts 296 Test caps; no side, however accomplished it might be, can immediately come to terms with the loss of such proven resources, which explains why not too many expect too much from a young side helmed by a first-time Test captain. Task ahead for Gill It's the lot of Shubman Gill and his band of brothers to revive the interest and regather the attention of the Indian fans. Gill, only 25, isn't unaware of the magnitude of the task that lies ahead of him. He has also been made aware numerous times on numerous platforms that India have won only three series in England since 1932, and that their last triumph in these shores came under Rahul Dravid in 2007. The catchline for an old commercial on television went: 'Tradition is what used to be.' It's debatable if Gill shares that point of view, because he has shown great reverence and respect when it comes to tradition and history. But like the rest of his 18 other colleagues in the extended playing squad, he will be determined to write his and his team's history of their own. What better time to kick off that process than right at the start, when external expectations might appear low but the fire is burning bright within the ranks? India had a poor time of it in Test cricket between October and January, when they lost six of eight matches, among them an unprecedented three on the trot at home against New Zealand. Some, but not all, of that trauma has dissipated in a tsunami of white-ball action subsequently, not least thanks to ultimate success in the Champions Trophy in Dubai in February-March where Rohit was the Player of the Final against New Zealand and Kohli reiterated his standing as the ultimate chaser in 50-over cricket with match-winning efforts against Pakistan and Australia (in the semifinal). But the prospect of a return to the longer format will stoke pangs of anxiety in the followers, if not the players themselves, and particularly so considering that a plethora of top-order choices – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Karun Nair – hasn't played Test cricket in England previously. Historically, England has been the most demanding of all Test-hosting countries from a batting standpoint. It was once said that no batter's education was complete unless they had played, and performed, in England. That might not necessarily be the case anymore, considering that England's faith in Bazball has altered the dynamics of pitch-preparation, if nothing else. Like India, but on the bowling front, England too are coming to terms with the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, two extraordinary servants of their country with 1,308 Test wickets between them. They have decent back-ups (how can you replace one bowler with 704 scalps and another with 604?) who don't yet have the same threat-potential that Anderson and Broad had, so India can expect to breathe slightly easy, but only slightly so. At the core of how well India go over the next six and a half weeks is how the batting group adjusts to the demands of playing in England. Pant, Gill's deputy who has a century in each of his two Test tours of England, spoke of how the greater challenge of moving from white- to red-ball cricket was in the mind and in the attitude, rather than technically. 'You must be more side-on, allow the ball to come to you and play close to your body,' he pointed out, 'but more than that, the adjustment is mainly mental.' Pant has shown in various parts of the world that he is adept at that adjustment, as evidenced by an average of more than 42 in 43 Tests despite his high-risk approach. Now in his new avatar and batting at No. 5, one spot below his good mate 'Shubby', he will have to show greater restraint without completely going against his natural grain if he is to retain both his shock and stock value. England's pace attack is not trifling – Ben Stokes will have Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue for company, with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, and potentially Gus Atkinson, due to return to the fray at some stage in the summer. They will ask questions of India's batters in conditions largely alien to the latter, but these questions are unlikely to have the same sustained intensity of the Anderson-Broad era. If the batters can put meaningful runs on the board during what is projected to a be a hot summer, there will be an opportunity for the bowlers to hold their own. India's trick will be to somehow find a place for Kuldeep Yadav, the wrist-spinner, in the playing XI, though whether they will be willing to compromise perceived batting depth to do so is open to question. The Bumrah factor The focus won't be on the batting group alone, though. The genius of Bumrah dictates that he will be the cynosure, no matter what. For a long time now, he has been the most feared bowler in the world, never mind if it is a Test match, a One-Day International or a T20 shootout. Such is his command and control over his craft that he brooks the most careful watching every time he walk-stutter-runs to the bowling crease. In Australia, his 32 wickets were the stuff of legend. In Dubai, India managed to tide over his absence through their assortment of spinners on slow surfaces but in the IPL, Bumrah reinforced his standing as the premier all-format bowler of his generation, his return from injury coinciding (?) with a revival of Mumbai Indians' fortunes. Much of the talk around Bumrah coming into this series has revolved around his workload, and how many matches he can/will play. Perhaps it's premature to harp so much on that – the word is that he will only figure in three of the five Tests – when not even a ball has been bowled in anger. Perhaps, the three-Test formula will be revisited if India bowl their opponents cheaply, if the weather plays spoilsport or if his pace support cast of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, the uncapped Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, backed up by all-rounders Nitish Kumar and Shardul Thakur, step up and take a lot of the load off Bumrah's able but heavy shoulders. But it's no secret that Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum would have spent long hours discussing the Bumrah threat, and how best to go about minimising it – there would, one is certain, have been no talk of neutralising or dismantling it. The Test bandwagon will roll on to Edgbaston, Lord's and Old Trafford before returning to the English capital, and The Oval, for the final act. Many of India's players, at least those historically inclined, will recognise the charm and the attraction of each of these grounds – Lord's more than any other, and not just because it is touted as the headquarters of cricket. It was here that India played their first Test match, in June 1932, and it was also here that Kapil Dev's peachy Class of '83 ripped the formbook to shreds with their epochal victory in the 60-over World Cup. To now be presented with the opportunity of parading their wares at this ground should act as a source of inspiration. Sourav Ganguly marked his Test debut with a hundred at the same venue nearly three decades back, while in 2002, current chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar slammed his only Test century, weeks after India's triumph in the NatWest Trophy final when Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif played lead roles in successfully hunting down 325 against Nasser Hussain's outfit. England are the favourites but Pant was insistent that anyone who viewed India as 'underdogs' did so at their own peril. 'We want to win this series, that's the mindset we've come with,' he said. 'For us, it's not about individual glory. If the team wins, everyone wins. That's the kind of thought process, the kind of mentality we want to take in the future.' If that translates to a momentous victory in Leeds, The Queens will become a star attraction, make no mistake.
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Hotel room in Vietnam for just ₹159 per night? Social media post raises eyebrows, netizens say ‘too good to be true'
An Indian traveller has gone viral on social media after revealing that he managed to find a hotel room in Vietnam for only ₹ 159.02 — taxes included. The budget-friendly booking, made at Leaf Hotel Phu Quoc, was shared on X (formerly Twitter), where it quickly drew widespread attention and surprise. The room was a Superior Double or Twin at the hotel, offering amenities such as free Wi-Fi, parking, 24-hour check-in, luggage storage, and a choice between a queen bed or two singles. The room, as per the listing, accommodates up to two adults and measures 18 square metres. What shocked users most was the breakdown of the pricing. The original cost for one night was listed as ₹ 578.24. After a 75% discount, the price dropped to ₹ 144.56, with an additional ₹ 14.46 in taxes and fees — bringing the total to ₹ 159.02. The platform clarified that payment would be collected in local currency — 48,000 Vietnamese Dong — and all VAT was included. Screengrab from the viral post. The post sparked a flood of reactions online. Many were amazed at the affordability, while others speculated on how such a low rate was possible. One user commented, 'Checked myself again and again, Very strange, 159 - 28.62 OTA commission = 130.38 including taxes, which is not possible even to bear Operations cost for room, might be a revenue management mistake or ego issues with other hotels. Time will tell.' Another remarked, 'It's a pay at the property booking high chance tell will refuse to allow check in for this rate.' 'Itne pe to coffee bhi na mile,' joked a user, pointing out how the rate was cheaper than a cup of coffee. Someone else added, 'Too many hotels in Phu Quoc. Hence race to bottom.'
