Dehradun Couple Trapped in Iran's Qom Amid Relentless Bombardment
A young married couple from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, finds themselves stranded in Iran's Qom city, living through a harrowing reality of constant bombardment and brief, anxiety-filled calls to their family back home. Their relatives in India report that the attacks have grown so frequent that they now measure time between the terrifying blasts, creating an atmosphere of perpetual fear and uncertainty.
Living Amidst the Sounds of War
Ali Haider, aged 24, and his wife Noor Jahan, 20, originally from Ambari village in Vikasnagar, Dehradun, traveled to Iran approximately four years ago to pursue advanced Islamic studies. Haider was based in Qom, one of Iran's primary centers for Islamic learning, while Noor resided in Ashtian. As the regional conflict has dramatically intensified, the couple has become tragically caught in a dangerous situation that leaves both them in Iran and their family in India in a state of extreme distress and helplessness.
Haider's brother, Sekhar Ali, provided a chilling account to the media, describing Qom as a city under repeated and severe attacks. "Haider informed us that there are bombings occurring every 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes just meters away from their temporary residence," Sekhar revealed. "Approximately two days ago, a massive explosion occurred barely 50 meters from their location, causing the entire building to violently shake." He added that the relentless sounds of airstrikes and emergency sirens are preventing the couple from getting any meaningful sleep, exacerbating their physical and mental exhaustion.
Communication Reduced to Rare, Unpredictable Calls
The family's connection to the stranded couple has become fragile and sporadic due to severely compromised communication infrastructure. Sekhar explained that calls from Iran have become rare and entirely unpredictable because connectivity remains poor and unstable. "There is no fixed schedule or reliable time when he manages to call and update us on what is happening. We are fortunate if we can speak once every two or three days, and even those conversations last only a few precious minutes," Sekhar stated.
The psychological toll on the family in Dehradun is equally severe. "We also struggle to sleep properly. We remain constantly glued to the television for news updates and repeatedly check our phones for any messages or missed calls. Our entire focus remains fixed on the phone to ensure we do not miss his call when it finally comes through," Sekhar described, painting a picture of a household living in suspended animation, gripped by worry.
Desire to Return Home Thwarted by Danger and Cost
The family confirms that the couple desperately wants to leave Iran and return to the safety of India. However, the perilous conditions on the ground have made evacuation incredibly difficult and fraught with risk. Sekhar reported that Indian embassy officials had suggested a potential exit route via the land borders with Armenia or Azerbaijan. However, the family believes this option carries significant dangers due to the ongoing and unpredictable strikes across the region.
"The embassy officials have informed us that they could potentially leave via the Armenia or Azerbaijan border by land, but that journey is considered far too risky because of the constant bombings and unstable security situation," Sekhar explained. "Furthermore, the cost of air tickets has skyrocketed, becoming prohibitively expensive, which presents another major financial constraint for the family."
With limited safe options, the family's hope now rests on a de-escalation of the conflict. "We simply pray that the situation calms down soon and they can return home safely. That is our only wish," Sekhar concluded, echoing the anxiety of countless families with loved ones caught in conflict zones abroad. The ordeal of this young couple from Dehradun underscores the human cost of international conflicts, impacting ordinary citizens far from the political decision-making tables.
