Indians Returning From Iran to Jammu and Kashmir Face Harsh Conditions, Omar Abdullah Demands Action
Legislative Pressure Mounts in Parliament
In the wake of the events described in Parts 1 and 2, pressure on both the central and state governments has intensified. Parliament sessions have become battlegrounds for debates over the handling of returnees from Iran. Several Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir submitted notices under Rule 377, demanding an urgent discussion on the treatment of the evacuees.
The Speaker allowed a short-duration discussion, during which lawmakers from the opposition and even some from the ruling coalition criticized the lack of comprehensive logistical planning. Congress MP Salman Soz called the post-arrival negligence “a national shame,” while BJP’s own J&K representative, Jugal Kishore Sharma, asked the Home Ministry to conduct a fact-finding mission.
Human Rights Commission Takes Suo Motu Cognizance
India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a suo motu notice to the Jammu and Kashmir administration. The NHRC said that the conditions described in media reports and shared on social media appeared to violate Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life with dignity.
The commission has asked for a detailed report within four weeks from the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and has also directed the MEA to submit their version of post-arrival coordination protocols. Legal experts believe this could lead to further scrutiny and even judicial review if the commission finds gross negligence.
Healthcare Fallout Among Returnees
As media attention on the condition of the evacuees grew, local hospitals in Kashmir began reporting a surge in complaints from returnees. Many were suffering from dehydration, respiratory distress due to poor ventilation during their bus journeys, and psychological trauma.
Doctors from SMHS Hospital in Srinagar confirmed treating over 50 returnees for stress-induced conditions within two days of their return. Dr. Touseef Wani, a clinical psychologist, emphasized that the journey had exacerbated the trauma these individuals had already experienced in war-hit Iran. “We are seeing symptoms of PTSD, especially among students who witnessed explosions and constant fear,” he noted.
Calls have been made for a state-sponsored mental health support program specifically for evacuees. As of now, no such initiative has been officially announced.
Evacuees Protest and Demand Apology
Frustrated with the lack of official acknowledgment, some evacuees staged a peaceful protest at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Holding placards that read “War Survivors Deserve Dignity” and “We Are Not Forgotten Cargo,” the students and professionals demanded a public apology from the government and an assurance that such mistreatment would not be repeated.
The protest garnered support from student unions across the state. Representatives of the Kashmir University Students’ Union said they would continue to organize solidarity campaigns until justice was delivered. Civil society groups have also launched an online petition demanding the resignation of key transport officials and a written apology from the J&K government.
Media Scrutiny and National Debate
National and regional media outlets have extensively covered the issue, sparking a debate on whether India is truly equipped to handle humanitarian crises involving its citizens abroad. Op-eds in major newspapers questioned why there was a breakdown in communication between ministries and why prior experiences, such as those from the COVID-19 repatriation efforts, had not resulted in improved protocols.
A viral editorial in The Hindu titled “From Rescue to Regret: India Must Rethink Its Humanitarian Protocols” summed up public sentiment. It stated: “An evacuation is only as successful as the last mile of its execution. Anything less is betrayal.”
The third part of our series reveals that the issue has escalated from a logistical failure to a national debate on human rights, governance, and accountability. With Parliament involved, human rights bodies taking action, and citizens protesting, the government is now under immense pressure to deliver not just answers but long-overdue reforms.
In Part 4, we will track the progress of investigations, explore how other states handle internal logistics during evacuations, and present policy recommendations from top experts in crisis management.
As pressure mounted from Parliament, civil society, and media, preliminary findings from various probes into the treatment of evacuees started to emerge. A fact-finding committee established by the Jammu and Kashmir administration confirmed several lapses in protocol. According to internal reports accessed by The Indian Express, the Transport Department used 2007-model buses that had not undergone routine safety checks in over 18 months.
The committee also flagged a critical shortfall in coordination between airport authorities and local officials. Key details, such as the number of incoming evacuees, their health conditions, and onward destination logistics, were either not shared or were sent too late for timely action. As a result, transport teams were left unprepared, both in terms of manpower and fleet readiness.
Political Fallout Continues to Build
The revelations ignited further political fallout. Omar Abdullah reiterated his demand for a judicial probe and said a fact-finding committee appointed by the state alone would not suffice. “These are band-aid solutions. We need a transparent, independent investigation that can hold those responsible to account,” he stated in a press briefing.
His call was echoed by Mehbooba Mufti and other regional leaders, who termed the incident “a breach of public trust.” Meanwhile, opposition parties at the national level began pressing the issue in standing committees related to disaster preparedness and public administration, suggesting that broader, pan-India protocols needed urgent revamping.
Comparative Analysis: What Other States Got Right
Interestingly, evacuees from Iran who were routed through other Indian cities such as Kochi and Hyderabad reported a significantly more organized reception. In Kerala, for example, local authorities had already set up reception counters at the airport with food, water, health checkups, and air-conditioned coaches for onward travel.
Maharashtra’s Disaster Response Cell partnered with local NGOs to manage crowd dispersal, arrange private taxis for remote regions, and establish a call center for distressed families seeking updates.
These state-level examples highlighted the glaring lack of foresight in Jammu and Kashmir’s response. Policy analysts suggested that a one-size-fits-all approach could no longer be justified, especially when some states clearly demonstrated better preparedness.
Voices of Reform and Hope
Even amid the criticism, a new wave of civic participation and policy brainstorming emerged. NGOs such as Athrout and Help Poor Voluntary Trust offered to draft evacuation protocols in consultation with the administration. Educationists suggested that universities in Kashmir offer temporary accommodations for returning students who still faced difficulties reaching home.
A national roundtable was organized by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), where bureaucrats, policy thinkers, and former diplomats discussed best practices for domestic reception of foreign evacuees. Key proposals included:
- A standardized “Evacuee Care Protocol” to be issued by the NDMA.
- Real-time communication links between MEA, airport authorities, and local disaster cells.
- Pre-allocated funding lines for states to activate during international evacuation crises.
- Deployment of verified private contractors for transport, under strict regulation.
Media Advocacy Turns Toward Solutions
As outrage gradually turned into advocacy, national media outlets began highlighting constructive solutions and accountability mechanisms. Editorial panels on NDTV, CNN-News18, and The Wire ran expert interviews on reforming evacuation logistics.
A special episode of We The People hosted evacuees, transport officials, and mental health experts to offer a 360-degree view of the crisis. This shift in narrative helped keep the issue in public discourse while nudging stakeholders toward systemic improvements rather than just reactive damage control.
Long-Term Changes in Motion
Following sustained media and civic pressure, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) instructed the MEA and Home Ministry to jointly develop a nationwide framework for domestic evacuation responses. A new task force was set up under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with representatives from key states, transport unions, and humanitarian experts.
Jammu and Kashmir’s administration, on its part, announced a ₹15 crore allocation to modernize its bus fleet and improve airport coordination. Training workshops for transport department staff were also planned, focusing on emergency responsiveness and crisis communication.
Furthermore, the Centre issued a directive mandating that all states conduct annual drills simulating the reception of citizens evacuated from abroad—especially from high-risk zones.
Conclusion of Part 4
Part 4 of our investigation captures a crucial shift—from outrage to reform. The incident, while deeply troubling, has catalyzed long-overdue attention to the domestic reception aspects of international evacuations. It has also ignited a dialogue about citizen dignity, federal coordination, and governance during humanitarian crises.
While logistical improvements are being debated and reform plans outlined, one aspect remains alarmingly under-addressed—the psychological toll on the evacuees. From warzones to chaos at home, many returnees—especially students—find themselves struggling with trauma, anxiety, and feelings of abandonment.
A joint survey conducted by the Kashmir Mental Health Collective and the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) revealed that over 65% of evacuees experienced symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep disruptions, panic attacks, and depressive episodes have become routine for many, particularly those who had been studying in cities like Tehran or Isfahan, which were directly hit by Israeli missiles during the early stages of the Iran-Israel conflict.
“Many of these students had spent days hiding in bunkers or sheltering without power or communication. To then be brought back to a country that treated them like logistical burdens was a double trauma,” said Dr. Rameez Latif, a trauma counselor volunteering with MSF in Srinagar.
Despite the severity of these psychological effects, there remains no formal, state-sponsored mental health assistance program for the returnees. Civil society groups have stepped in, offering counseling sessions, peer support groups, and psychiatric referrals. But the scale of need far exceeds available resources.
Ground-Level Status: Are Reforms Being Implemented?
Journalistic visits to key transit points—Srinagar International Airport, the Anantnag Bus Terminal, and district hospitals—reveal a patchy implementation of the promised reforms. While newly procured buses are beginning to replace older ones, many routes are still being served by outdated vehicles.
The airport help desk announced by the J&K Transport Department is functional but limited in capacity, often understaffed and overwhelmed. Language barriers and a lack of real-time coordination between ground staff and airport authorities continue to cause confusion.
Despite the central government’s announcement of a ₹15 crore allocation to upgrade transport infrastructure, local contractors interviewed by this publication revealed delays in fund disbursement. Red tape and bureaucratic hold-ups are reportedly slowing procurement and rollout.
One contractor from Baramulla, on condition of anonymity, said, “There’s a lot of talk, but the payments haven’t started. We can’t upgrade our fleet without financial backing.”
Civil Society’s Expanding Role
In the absence of swift governmental action, civil society and student groups are increasingly becoming the backbone of relief. In Pulwama, the Youth Welfare Forum has launched a crowd-funded initiative to provide returning students with psychological aid, nutritious food packets, and temporary shelter. In downtown Srinagar, the Women’s Collective for Peace has begun home visits for returnee families with vulnerable members—especially the elderly and disabled.
University professors and school teachers have formed informal mentorship groups to help students reintegrate into academic life after their interrupted education in Iran.
An art-based healing program, Project Nazar, led by artist Zoya Andrabi, has also gained traction, allowing students to express their trauma through painting, poetry, and performance. “We needed a safe space to feel seen,” said Areeba Khan, a 3rd-year medical student from Kerman, Iran. “Project Nazar gave me that.”
Legal and Bureaucratic Challenges Linger
Several evacuees also face bureaucratic limbo. Their academic credentials remain unverified due to destruction of documents in Iran and lack of clarity from Indian authorities on how to facilitate re-enrollment. Some students have appealed to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for provisional admission to continue their studies but have received no clear pathway yet.
Additionally, many returnees report delays in Aadhaar linkage, financial aid distribution, and housing support, making it difficult to rebuild their lives. Local officials attribute the delay to a “lack of centralized instruction” from New Delhi.
Public interest litigation (PIL) has now been filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, demanding immediate creation of a legal framework to handle foreign evacuees’ education, housing, and identification challenges in post-crisis scenarios.
Voices of the Returnees: A Generation That Won’t Forget
Interviews with returnees paint a complex picture of relief, disappointment, and determination. Some express gratitude for being safely evacuated, while others feel bitter about what followed. “We don’t blame the army or the pilots who brought us home. But the system failed us after touchdown,” said 22-year-old Yasin Bhat, who studied engineering in Shiraz.
Many see themselves as part of a generation awakened to the fragility of government promises. “We are not just victims—we are witnesses. And we will keep telling the story until the system changes,” said Nida Akhtar, a student leader from Kupwara.
Returnees are also forming associations to lobby collectively. The J&K Evacuee Welfare Network was recently registered with over 600 members, aiming to become a formal pressure group to demand accountability and policy reform.
The Broader Implication: Lessons for Future Crisis Management
The unfolding episode of India’s evacuation from Iran and its chaotic aftermath in Jammu and Kashmir isn’t just a regional issue—it’s a national warning. It exposes the critical need for integrated crisis management frameworks, particularly when geopolitics forces rapid citizen repatriation from conflict zones.
Experts argue that India needs a statutory law akin to the U.S. “Repatriation Assistance Act,” which would codify everything from medical screening to transport logistics and legal aid for returnees. The lack of such a mechanism, as seen here, leaves too much to ad-hoc decisions and uncoordinated governance.
The NDMA’s new task force, formed after national uproar, could be the beginning of such codification—if it moves from consultation to concrete legislation.
Also Read : Indians Returning from Iran Allege Poor Bus Conditions in J&K, Omar Abdullah Demands Probe
