Five workers from Jammu and Kashmir lost their lives in a tragic road accident in Kuwait. The deceased individuals included one person from Thanamandi in Rajouri and four from Surankote in Poonch. The families of the victims are requesting the authorities to repatriate their bodies.
The victims, who were all laborers employed in Kuwait, had migrated to the Gulf nation to support their families. The accident has plunged their hometowns, especially Thanamandi and Surankote, into mourning as relatives and locals grieve the loss.
Appeals have been made by the family members of the deceased to the Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor and Chief Minister for swift arrangements to bring back the bodies. The aim is to conduct the final rites in their respective hometowns. Reports indicate that the fatal incident occurred when two vehicles collided on a highway in Kuwait. The formal confirmation of the victims’ identities is pending coordination with relevant agencies and diplomatic channels.
Locals from Jammu and Kashmir often seek employment opportunities in Gulf countries like Kuwait, mainly in labor-intensive sectors, to provide financial support to their families in India.
Thousands of students from the region travel to Iran for affordable education and cultural connections. However, many are now facing challenges due to disruptions in their studies and livelihoods, impacting sectors like Kashmiri handicraft exports. Recently, around 1,200 Kashmiri students, predominantly studying medicine, were evacuated from Iran due to regional conflicts, with most returning safely via Azerbaijan by early April 2026.
Most of these students were pursuing medical studies in cities such as Qom and Isfahan. Following the regional instability and a ceasefire in early April 2026, approximately 1,100 students returned home, while the rest crossed the Azerbaijan border. Iran’s appeal to Kashmiri students lies in its low tuition fees, English-medium programs, and shared cultural and religious ties, especially for students from Shia communities.
