Students who returned from Srinagar agriculture university recount tense moments

BENGALURU: About 20 students from Karnataka, who were pursuing postgraduate studies in agriculture at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Srinagar, were forced to return to their home Due to the escalating India-Pakistan’s tensions. The university has declared a temporary holiday in view of the prevailing situation.

Two students, Harish and Nuthan, shared their experience with Public TV. They said that they were initially stranded in Srinagar due to blockades and blackouts, which made it difficult for them to move around. “Local students from Srinagar encouraged and helped us stay safe”, they said.

“It was very scary at night, not even a small light was on. We did not go outside the agricultural university campus. During Operation Sindoor, we heard the sound of explosions and we were very scared”, they said.

Thirteen students from Karnataka who were studying at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Jammu & Kashmir have been brought back safely. All students have reached New Delhi and will arrive in Bengaluru by tomorrow evening.

Even in a time of… pic.twitter.com/oloz6I3dRd

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The students travelled from Srinagar to Jammu by bus and then took a train to Delhi before finally reaching Bengaluru by flight. They expressed their gratitude to the central and state governments for enabling their safe return.

The students, including Harish and Nuthan, met JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who welcomed them and offered support. The students had been living in fear due to drone attacks and shelling by Pakistan. They were relieved to be back in Karnataka and appreciated the government’s efforts to bring them back home.

“We were very scared after Operation Sindoor wa launched. We kept on trying to move from Poonch to our hometown amid attacks from across the border. There was no available transport service as trains and flight bookings were cancelled. We approached ministers and media channels seeking help. The Ministry of Heavy Industries came forward to help us. HD Kumaraswamy sir and Nikhil Kumaraswamy sir were in touch over the phone. Everything was taken care of by them. I would like to thank the Government of India and the state government as well”, a female student said.

Another student said, “The attacks and all the tensions are normal for Kashmir students, but it was a new experience for us. We were scared and we used to hear news of shelling and missile attacks between Pakistan and India. We spent our journey in fear and panic”.