After an arduous 500-km road journey from conflict-hit Tehran, Indian tourist Falguni Dey reached the Astara border between Iran and Azerbaijan on Tuesday evening. However, his troubles are far from over.
Dey now finds himself entangled in bureaucratic hurdles. In order to cross into Azerbaijan and reach Baku — from where he plans to fly back to India — he needs a special migration code issued by Azerbaijani authorities. His valid e-visa is not being accepted at the land border.
“I may have escaped the bombs in Tehran, but I’m now stuck at the Astara border. Without this migration code, they won’t let me enter Azerbaijan, and I’ve been told it could take up to two weeks to process,” Dey shared in a voice message to PTI.
A college professor from Kolkata and an amateur mountaineer, Dey had arrived in Tehran on June 5 for an expedition to Mount Damavand. However, escalating conflict and missile attacks forced him to flee the city by road on June 17.
He now faces immense physical, emotional, and financial strain. “I’m exhausted and running out of funds. My family and friends put in so much effort and money to help me, but it all feels in vain right now,” he said, visibly distressed.
His hotel reservation in Baku had to be cancelled, and his Mumbai-bound flight ticket was voided due to border issues. “No one in Tehran told me I would need a migration pass in addition to my e-visa. I applied immediately, but the authorities say it’ll take at least 15 days to process,” he explained.
Dey added that while many foreigners at the Astara checkpoint were allowed to cross, Indian nationals like him were specifically asked for the migration code.
Amid this crisis, Dey expressed gratitude for the support he’s receiving. Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor Santa Dutta, noted mountaineer Debasish Biswas, and Balaram Shukla, a senior official from the Indian Embassy’s cultural division in Tehran, have all stepped in to assist. Both the Indian embassies in Tehran and Baku are coordinating to resolve his situation.
He described the journey to Astara as difficult, with frequent stops due to fuel rationing in Iran. Still, he was thankful to the driver couple from his local travel agency, who accompanied him all the way, ensuring his safety, offering emotional support, and even bringing him refreshments.
Now, facing continued uncertainty at Astara, Dey is considering a new option — traveling another eight hours to reach the Armenia border, in hopes of securing an alternative route home.
For now, he places his hope in the prayers of his loved ones and the continued efforts of officials working behind the scenes.
