A GROUP of students from Yishun Town Secondary School who were in India for a four-day immersion programme returned home safely on Sunday - much to the relief of their families.

The 17 students and three teachers were supposed to have flown back from Mumbai's airport on Thursday, when violence broke out in the city.

Afraid for their safety, the school redirected them to Bangalore's airport, from where they flew home.

Two Saturdays ago, the students and teachers left for Pune, often described as the cultural capital of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, to learn about the Indian education system, culture and sights through sharing and making friends.

Pune is about 120 km south-east of Mumbai.

The school's vice-principal Tan Chin Huat, told The Straits Times that when news of the situation in Mumbai broke, the school contacted the teachers at once to confirm the safety of the group.

The students' parents were also called and given reassurance of their child's safety, he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also informed of the group's location; the ministry's officials who had gone to Mumbai were in constant contact with the teachers in charge of the trip.

Mr Tan said: 'It was as the events unfolded that the school decided that it would be advisable to take a detour to Bangalore and then fly home to Singapore from there.'

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.