Kolkata, June 17 (PTI): Falguni Dey, a 40-year-old assistant professor from Women’s Christian College in Kolkata and an avid mountaineer, finds himself stranded in a Tehran hotel room, battling anxiety and dwindling financial resources as he struggles to find a way back home.
Dey has been experiencing sleepless nights as he endures the frightening sounds of Israeli bombardments and thick smoke rising from targeted sites around Tehran, visible from his hotel room. With no clear solution and his funds rapidly depleting, this adventure enthusiast is contemplating a risky land escape to neighboring countries such as Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.
“I didn’t intend to stay in Tehran for this long. The money I have won’t last much longer, and I can’t access funds from home due to closed banks here.” Dey, who is the only Indian in his hotel, expressed his frustrations and lack of evacuation plans from the Indian government. His plan involves possibly making a dangerous overland journey with guidance from his local travel agent.
Initially, Dey arrived in Tehran on June 5 with the goal of scaling Mount Damavand, Asia’s highest volcanic peak at 5,610 meters. Having successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus, he was confident in his third attempt at a volcanic summit. Unfortunately, a severe blizzard forced him to abandon the climb just 400 meters below the peak.
“Returning to Tehran, I immediately sensed the impending turmoil. The city was under bombardment, and my return flight was canceled due to the closure of Iranian airspace, trapping me in the conflict. ” Despite constant contact with the Indian embassy, Dey received no evacuation support, only protocols to follow.
With approximately 10,000 Indians in Iran, including around 4,000 students from Kashmir, Dey feels alone, advised by the embassy to stay close to his hotel while bombings continue, yet life goes on around him.
Concerned family members back in Kolkata's Jadavpur urge him to take desperate measures to escape Iran. The nearest international border is a daunting 1,000 kilometers away, with paperwork and risks involved. Despite these challenges, Dey feels compelled to make this journey as his resources dwindle and local evacuations stall, depending on diplomatic ties.
With the conflict unlikely to resolve soon, and Iranian airspace indefinitely closed, Dey watches drone strikes and endures constant explosions near and far, losing sleep over fears of missile strikes on his hotel. His hopes for intervention appear increasingly dim.
Appealing for action, Dey states, “The uncertainty over the airspace affects our evacuation. The Indian embassy updates citizen databases and issues advisories, but efforts fall short. I urge our Union government and EAM S Jaishankar to intervene urgently and plead for support from the West Bengal government.”
In light of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Indian embassy urged all nationals in Tehran to relocate to safer areas and maintain contact. The embassy posted, requesting Indians in Tehran to contact them with their location and contact details through given numbers.
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