Falguni Dey, an assistant professor from Kolkata's Women's Christian College and an avid mountaineer, is currently caught in a precarious situation in Tehran amidst ongoing conflict. He had traveled to Tehran on June 5th with the goal of scaling Mount Damavand, a volcanic peak and the highest mountain in Iran. Unfortunately, his climbing plans were thwarted by a severe blizzard that forced him to turn back just 400 meters shy of the summit.

Returning to Tehran with disappointment, he was met with a city under attack. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the closure of Iranian airspace, leaving Dey stranded with canceled return flights and rapidly dwindling funds. The professor has spent the last six nights in a hotel room in central Tehran, sleepless due to the relentless sounds of explosions and the sight of smoke rising from bombed areas.

Faced with this dire situation, Dey is contemplating a perilous journey to escape Iran via land. He is considering crossing over to a neighboring country like Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, or even Pakistan, hoping to catch a flight back home from there. He told news agencies that he is running out of money and cannot access additional funds due to bank closures in Tehran. With no immediate evacuation assistance from the Indian government, he feels he has no other choice but to attempt this dangerous escape.

On Monday evening, June 17th, 2025, Dey reportedly began his journey towards Astara, a city in Iran's Gilan province bordering Azerbaijan, in an attempt to find safety across the border. The Indian embassy has advised citizens to move to safer locations. He is currently the only Indian national at his hotel, further compounding his sense of isolation and urgency. Dey's desperation highlights the difficult circumstances faced by individuals caught in the crossfire of international conflicts and the challenges of providing assistance and evacuation in such volatile environments.