11 hours ago
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.
