Kashmiri pilgrims stuck in Iran face hardships
Srinagar: Families of stranded Kashmiri pilgrims in Iran hold yet another protest in Srinagar to demand evacuation of their loved ones.
22 pilgrims including a child and 12 females are stranded in Qom city of Iran since February 17. The pilgrims from Kargil stranded in the same city were evacuated due to the efforts put in by Kargil Deputy Commissioner and other officials, but the Kashmiri pilgrims are still stranded there.
“We are 22 Kashmiri pilgrims stranded in Qom Iran from last three months, have left on the mercy of Allah. We have kids and old aged people with us. We are depressed, having other ailments. Embassy people are saying they don’t have any requisition from Indian Home Ministry and Civil aviation,” reads a text of a stranded pilgrim sent on WhatsApp to news agency KNT.
The family members of these stranded pilgrims staged a protest and med Divisional Commissioner, who assured action and evacuation. The protesters allege that State Administration is not doing enough.
“Wasn’t it the responsibility of State Administration to take up the matter seriously and got them evacuated. We can’t even send them money. They are facing severe hardships,” the protesters said.
They said that Indian Embassy in Tehran is ready to evacuate them but they are waiting the nod from Jammu and Kashmir Government. “We were told that Indian Embassy in Tehran is ready and they have even arranged flights for them on May 22 and 24, but they are not getting nod from the Jammu and Kashmir.”
The protesters said that they met Divisional Commissioner Kashmir who assured us of evacuation. “We request Government of India and State Administration to take the matter seriously and evacuate them without any delay,” the protesters told KNT.