Hyderabad: The government of Jammu and Kashmir has begun evacuating students from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after rising tensions in the region. This action follows the intervention of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who responded to urgent requests from students seeking help.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become unstable since Friday, with multiple attempts by Pakistan to violate Indian airspace. Concerned for their safety, students studying at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) reached out to the Union Minister.
After hearing from the students, Bandi Sanjay Kumar contacted the SKUAST Dean in Wadoora and urged J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to take immediate steps to ensure the students’ safety.
A total of 23 students were evacuated. According to Sanjay Kumar’s office, seven are from Andhra Pradesh, six from Telangana, and ten from Tamil Nadu. The evacuation effort is being managed by the Additional Commissioner of Sopore and Resident Commissioner Channi.
A Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus carrying the students and faculty left Wadoora at 10 am. Their route includes travel to Jammu, then onward to Delhi, from where they will return to their home states.
Sashi Kiran Reddy, a faculty member at SKUAST from Telangana, confirmed that students from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra were on their way to Delhi. However, by 5:30 pm, the bus was caught in a traffic jam stretching over a kilometer.
Another faculty member, Kashyap from Bhadradri-Kothagudem in Telangana, shared that progress was slow due to the jam. With Jammu Airport closed and train services suspended, they remain uncertain about how they will continue traveling to Delhi. Final travel plans will be made once they reach Jammu.
Earlier, students from SKUAST and NIT, Kashmir, sent an email describing their fear. “We feel trapped in a war zone. Though we’re inside university premises, the situation is getting worse. Flights are canceled, and we can’t leave. Please help us get out of here immediately,” the message read.
In response, Bandi Sanjay Kumar personally reached out to the students to check on their condition. He then contacted the local authorities and the SKUAST Dean to organize a safe evacuation for them.
Thanks to his efforts, J&K officials have started relocating the students to safer locations, ensuring their journey home begins as quickly and safely as possible.
