Five pilgrims from UP's Ballia safely return from Iran

India Jun 24, 2025

Five pilgrims from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, are back home safe after being stranded in Tehran for over two weeks because of the Israel-Iran tensions.
What was supposed to be a week-long religious trip turned into an unexpected extended stay, but thanks to quick coordination between Indian and Iranian authorities, they made it back without harm.

Waiting in hotel was stressful, says pilgrim

The group described a tense vibe with news of missile firings, but said daily life mostly went on—shops and places of worship stayed open.
Syed Mohammad Muztaba Hussain shared that waiting in their hotel from June 7 to 21 was stressful, but he's grateful for the help from both governments that got them safely home.