The ordeal faced by Kashmiri students evacuated from war-hit Iran has drawn sharp criticism and widespread embarrassment for the Jammu and Kashmir government, after a bus meant to transport them from Delhi to Srinagar broke down five times on the Pathankot highway, leaving the students stranded for over two hours.
The bus in question was carrying 14 female students, all of whom had already endured a grueling 2,000-km road journey in Iran, followed by an extended, multi-leg evacuation flight via Armenia and Doha that finally brought them to Delhi. Expectations for a safe and comfortable return home were shattered when they were loaded into an SRTC (State Road Transport Corporation) bus that repeatedly malfunctioned during the mountainous leg of the journey.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, in a post on X, shared videos and voiced their anger, saying:
“After enduring a harrowing four-day journey from Iran via Armenia and Doha, Kashmiri students have reached Delhi, only to be dumped in SRTC buses, unlike students from other states who were received with proper airport facilitation, care, and connecting flights home.”
While the central government received praise from the evacuees for its rescue efforts from Iran, including flight arrangements, the Jammu and Kashmir administration was slammed for its lack of coordination and poor infrastructure support.
Students expressed disappointment and emotional distress, stating that after surviving a conflict zone, they expected at least basic respect, dignity, and reliable transport back home.
In response to the backlash:
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The then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s office stated it had "taken note" of the situation.
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Authorities claimed they were working with the J&K SRTC to arrange better deluxe buses for the remainder of the students' journey.
This incident comes amid heightened expectations for better inter-agency coordination during international evacuations, especially for students and citizens returning from crisis zones. The contrast in treatment between students from Jammu & Kashmir and those from other states—many of whom received airport facilitation and onward flights—has further fuelled criticism of administrative negligence.
The incident is being viewed as a symbol of deeper systemic apathy toward Kashmiri students, especially during times of crisis, and has revived calls for equal and dignified treatment for all Indian citizens—regardless of state affiliation—during national rescue efforts.
