Shamaa Afroz, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, finds herself stuck in Iran these days. Her family is deeply distressed and has pleaded with the Indian government for her safe return. Reports suggest that Shamaa departed from Delhi on May 30th as part of a pilgrimage group named Karwan-e-Haideri. This group, consisting of 12 devotees from Uttar Pradesh, is trapped in a hotel in Iran's Qom district for four days now.
Shamaa's brother, Aslam Mehndi, from Aligarh, shared with the media that his sister called and informed him about the dire situation resulting from the ongoing tension between Iran and Israel, making it nearly impossible to leave the hotel. Intermittent disruptions in internet and communication services compound the difficulty of maintaining contact.
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Aslam has urgently called upon the Indian government, Ministry of External Affairs, and local authorities for immediate intervention. He mentioned that just as the Indian government has previously facilitated the evacuation of Indians from crisis-hit regions like Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Sudan, a swift response is necessary again. He urged the authorities to arrange for the return of his sister and other terrified pilgrims.
The Indian Embassy in Iran maintains communication with the pilgrims, making efforts to ensure their safe evacuation. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels are being used to manage the situation. This incident has caused significant distress and anxiety among Shamaa Afroz's family and relatives in Aligarh.
