Fly back via Jordan: Embassy to students stranded in Israel
Times of India | 20 June 2025
123456 Kolkata: The news that the Indian govt is likely to start operating rescue flights for the evacuees from Israel soon has come as a breather for Bengal students stranded in the war-torn country. The Indian embassy in Israel has advised them, especially those at universities in central Israel, to to register themselves and move out of the country through Jordan."The students will have to travel to the Israel-Jordan border. From there, they will have to reach the airport and fly out from there," said Akash Panja, who is pursuing research in medicinal chemistry at Ariel University, Israel.While Panja and his wife have decided to stay back and wait for the situation to improve, students who faced the war-like situation for the first time are looking at ways to move out. Abir Mukhopadhyay, a research scholar from Asansol, is stranded in Rehovot. He is pursuing his post-doctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Earlier this week, when Iran dropped missiles in Rehovot, it destroyed a number of laboratories, including those catering to cardiac regeneration and cancer research."We are glued to the television now and following the developments there. We want him back in India now. We are talking to him multiple times during the day. He told us that the MEA is reaching out to students for evacuation," said Subhashis Mukhopadhyay, father of Abir. "We have sent a letter to the Indian govt, and Nabanna is also intervening to expedite the process," he said."I am confused with the developments. I will take some time to decide if I am ready to take the journey," said Aniruddha Bera, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University. Aniruddha's father, Asim Bera, a retired teacher, said, "We are worried, but there's nothing we can do in this situation. We have to wait until the Indian govt rescues them."Divya Mukhopadhyay, a researcher from Khardah, is pursuing post-doctoral research in plant pathology at the University of Jerusalem. The missiles struck areas barely 1.5 km from his residence. Despite the threat, he has decided to wait, hoping for the situation to improve. "Shops are open, and people are managing. He was working from home, as per Israel govt advisories. He will watch the situation for a few more days," said his uncle, Subhamay Mukhopadhyay.