Srinagar, June 19 -- The first batch of nine Kashmiri students, who were stranded in Iran amid the ongoing regional conflict, returned home on Thursday, marking the beginning of the much-awaited evacuation effort.

Among the returnees is a student named Saba, a resident of Safa Kadal in Downtown Srinagar, who was received by her relieved family members. she said, "I'm feeling happy that I've finally reached home. I came along with eight other students from Iran."

However, she also voiced her disappointment over the lack of air travel arrangements from Delhi to Srinagar. "After a long and exhausting journey, we expected better support from the government, but we were asked to travel in SRTC buses," she said, criticising the Omar Abdullah-...