Latest news with #AartiKrishna
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka students in Iran seek state government's help for evacuation
Bengaluru: Students from Karnataka studying medicine at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, reached out to the state govt for help to evacuate them from Iran. The students are currently with Indian embassy officials amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. The students are in constant touch with their parents. The state govt said one of the students and his parents in Bengaluru reached out to it seeking help in their evacuation. "Nine students are from Karnataka, of whom six are from Bengaluru. One student and his parents contacted us over the phone and expressed their fear and desire to return to India. Office of Non-Resident Committee vice chairperson Aarti Krishna wrote to the ministry of external affairs requesting it to take steps to immediately bring back the students. We are yet to hear back from them," said a senior official. "We are in constant touch with the officials concerned and are personally monitoring the situation," he said. "The students are unable to sleep at night. The conflict zones are 15-20 minutes away from their campus. They can see missiles flying over their hostels. They are extremely anxious and reached out to the university and the Indian embassy," said Fayaz Ali, father of a student in Iran and resident of Austin Town in Bengaluru. According to the parents, there are around 400 Indian students in the university. Exams were underway for the students. "They were supposed to come back by August after the exams get over. However, the exams stopped midway," said Shabab Zehra, mother of Nadeem Hussain. Nadeem is a second-year student at the university. "We are worried that the conflict will escalate and the students will be affected. We want them to come back safely as soon as possible," she said. "The embassy created a WhatsApp group with parents and students, and we are constantly kept posted on the developments. Currently, the students are being taken to a safer city," Fayaz said. Relatives in the state say there are students in other universities too. Hassan Abbas Syed, a class 12 student at Alipur, Gowribidanur, said his sister is pursuing her fourth-year BDS at Tehran University of Medical Sciences where there are three more from Karnataka. "They are being transported to a safer location in North Iran. One of their hospitals is very close to the conflict zone, and a blast happened quite close to it. When I last spoke to my sister, she said they have been instructed not to disclose the location but are being shifted and are in safe hands. Her internet connection has been patchy, and we have not been able to communicate frequently," he said. Union minister HD Kumaraswamy said on X that he spoke to several Kannadigas stranded in Israel via video calls and enquired about their well-being and safety. "I assured them of taking urgent steps to ensure their safe and speedy return to their homeland and will hold talks with @MEAIndia." He said he informed the students that the Union govt has taken "all necessary measures for the safety of Indian citizens in conflict-affected foreign countries..."
News18
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka Medical Students In Tehran Seek Evacuation Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Last Updated: These medical students fear for their safety as Israel declared "aerial superiority" and said it has control of Iranian skies from the western part to the capital Tehran Amid tensions between Israel and Iran, nine students from Karnataka stranded in Tehran have made a desperate plea to the central government for evacuation. While the evacuation of Indian students began via Armenia on Monday, these medical students fear for their safety as Israel declared 'aerial superiority" and said it has control of Iranian skies from the western part of the country to its capital Tehran. Dr Aarti Krishna, vice-chairperson of the NRI Forum Karnataka, wrote to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) on June 15 urging immediate action. 'I am writing to request your help in evacuating nine Karnataka students stuck in Toufiq Alley, Zafraniya area, Tehran, Iran, who had gone there to study medicine. They are requesting urgent intervention from the Indian embassy in Tehran and the ministry of external affairs to help them return to India," her letter stated. The students — Nadeem Hussain, Mir Naser Hussain, Syed Mohd Taqi, Mir Esam Reza, Abbas Askari, Syed Mohsin Reza, Maryam Fatima, Daniya Ulfat, and Abbas Ali — are enrolled at Shahid Beheshti Medical University and, at present, reside in the Toufiq Alley area of Zafraniya in Tehran. Panic has gripped the Indian student community, prompting a formal appeal to the MEA from the Karnataka government. One of the stranded students, Nadeem Hussain, along with his family in Bengaluru, contacted the NRI Forum for help. The forum has assured families that the situation is being closely monitored, and the students' whereabouts and well-being are being tracked through regular phone communication. In response to growing concerns, the embassy, in coordination with Iranian authorities, began relocating Indian students to safer locations. 'We are in constant touch with Indian embassy officials as well as MEA authorities. Since there are several students from India, efforts are being made to bring them all safely home together. The Karnataka students will also be part of the evacuation exercise," Krishna told News18. The Indian embassy in Tehran issued an advisory asking all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin in Iran to remain indoors and stay updated through verified communication channels. A dedicated Telegram group has also been created to share real-time information and officials are being kept in the loop on developments on site. First Published: June 16, 2025, 22:09 IST
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka students in Iran, B-PAC team in Israel, seek to return amid tensions
Nine students from Karnataka studying in a medical university in Iran have sought help to return to India amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel. The students have been pursuing medicine at the Shahid Behshti Medical University near Tehran, the capital of Iran. According to the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Forum Karnataka, Nadeem Hussain, one of the nine students, and his parents who reside in Bengaluru, contacted the forum expressing anxiety over the situation and seeking help to return immediately. A statement from the forum noted that its vice chairperson, Aarti Krishna, has written to the Ministry of External Affairs urging quick intervention to bring back the students. 'We are in constant touch with the officials concerned and staff over the phone, and are personally monitoring the situation and taking action,' the statement read. Waiting to fly out Meanwhile, 18 members of the B-PAC team, who went on a study tour to Israel, have been forced to stay back in Tel-Aviv due to the shutdown of airports in Israel. The team, whose tour was from June 6 to 14, was scheduled to return on the 14th. However, following the missile and drone strikes between both the countries, Israel closed down its airports and moved fleets of their major airlines out of the country. 'Our return has been delayed due to the airports closing down. But we all are taken care of by the Israel Consulate and the Indian Embassy here,' said Matilda D'Souza, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee member and part of the B-PAC team, speaking to The Hindu from Tel Aviv. According to her, the group includes members of political parties including Congress, BJP, JDS and AAP, apart from a few with no political associations. The group was visiting as part of the Civic Leadership Incubator Programme. 'We have been provided with good accommodation and food. Hopefully we will be able to fly out soon,' Ms. D'Souza said.
