At least 376 students from the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh who were stranded in Rajasthan’s Kota amid the nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus departed for home on Saturday, an official said.

One NEET aspirant from Kashmir’s Kupwara, Haris (19) said “We were stuck in Kota for one month due to which our parents back home were concerned. Now we are happy that we are returning home”. He thanked the Rajasthan government, Jammu and Kashmir government and their coaching institute in Kota for facilitating the students’ return.

Since many students from the valley are observing Ramadan fast, they were provided meals by the Allen Career Institute of Kota.

The 14 buses that left from Kota on Saturday carrying the students will cover a distance of around 1000 km to reach the valley.

Over 20,000 students from Kota have already returned to their states in buses including those from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh,” Divisional Commissioner, Kota, LN Soni said.