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Srinagar – A group of Kashmiri students, finally heading home to Ladakh after a long evacuation from Iran and a quarantine period in Jaisalmer, have raised an alarm over the "pathetic" and "inhumane" conditions of the bus provided for their long journey. Their plight, captured in a video and shared on social media, quickly prompted the office of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene.

The students had already endured a significant ordeal, having been evacuated from Iran and completing a mandatory quarantine in a government facility in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Expecting a comfortable and safe journey home, they were instead met with a bus in a state of disrepair. A video circulating online shows torn seats, dirt, and an overall lack of basic amenities, sparking frustration and a sense of disrespect among the travelers.

The issue was amplified by Sarah Hayat Shah, the Additional Spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), who posted the video on X (formerly Twitter). She condemned the arrangement, questioning why students who had been through so much were being subjected to such poor treatment for a multi-day trip back to Ladakh. "Is this how we treat our children?" she asked in her post, highlighting the stark contrast between the government's evacuation efforts and the subsequent lack of care.

Following the social media outcry, the office of JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah took immediate notice. Acknowledging the students' grievances, Abdullah's office contacted the J&K Union Territory administration to demand better and more dignified travel arrangements. They urged officials to ensure the students could complete the final leg of their journey home comfortably and safely.

This incident underscores the power of social media in holding authorities accountable and highlights the logistical challenges in managing the welfare of citizens during large-scale repatriation efforts. For the students, the poorly maintained bus was a disappointing end to a stressful period away from home, turning their relief into a fresh ordeal.


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