MMEA says 827 Indians evacuated from Iran under operation Sindhu
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – India External Affairs Ministry on Saturday announced that over 800 Indian nationals have been brought back from Iran under Operation Sindhu,
India’s evacuation initiative launched after the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
MEA stated that in view of the deteriorating security situation following the escalating hostilities, India launched Operation Sindhu on Wednesday to facilitate the safe return of its citizens stranded in Iran.
The latest evacuation flight from Mashhad, carrying 310 Indian nationals, landed in New Delhi at 4:30 PM on Saturday, MEA stated on X.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, “Another evacuation flight from Mashhad landed in New Delhi at 1630 hrs on 21 June with 310 Indian nationals from Iran. With this, a total of 827 Indians have been evacuated.”
The Government of India has been actively coordinating efforts for the safety and repatriation of Indian nationals in Iran.
Jaiswal shared that a special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, had also arrived in Delhi.
“Operation Sindhu continues. A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bring Indians from Iran home. With this, so far, 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned under Operation Sindhu,” he posted.
Jaiswal noted in another update that “Operation Sindhu flight brings citizens home. Evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran, including students and religious pilgrims, by a charter flight. The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV & OIA), Arun Chatterjee.”
He expressed gratitude to the Iranian government for its cooperation in facilitating the evacuations.
Third flight under Operation Sindhu touched down, 290 Indians including 190 from Jammu and Kashmir were welcomed home with patriotic chants and emotional scenes at Delhi airport, he stated.
Passengers waved Indian flags and raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Indian government for their safe return amidst the escalating crisis.
Iran on Friday relaxed airspace restrictions to allow three charter flights to evacuate 1,000 Indian nationals, most of them students, under Operation Sindhu in a major diplomatic breakthrough.
Indian Embassy in Tehran coordinated the safe passage of evacuees, while the MEA oversaw the repatriation process.
Zaffar Abbas Naqvi, was evacuated who shared that after attacks began, his family moved from Tehran to Mashhad, which was also targeted.
“We contacted the Indian government, and the action was so swift that we cannot express our gratitude in words. I want to thank Modi ji and Yogi ji who made all the arrangements for us,” he said.
Kulsum, an evacuee, said, “The situation in Iran was worrisome. We were very anxious. The government’s help was invaluable, and we are thankful to be back home safely.”
Mohammad Ali Qazim, who returned from Mashhad said, “The situation, especially in Tehran, was not good. The Indian government helped us cross the border and return home. The UP government is also helping us get back to our native places.”
The coordinated efforts of the Central and State governments have brought immense relief to families across India, ensure the safe return of citizens amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.
The first batch under Operation Sindhu included 110 Indian students 90 of them from Jammu and Kashmir evacuated from northern Iran to Armenia before being flown to Delhi.
These students were mostly from Urmia Medical University.
The Israel-Iran conflict entered its 9th day on Saturday. The crisis was triggered by a massive Israeli airstrike on June 13 targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites, code-named “Operation Rising Lion.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a large-scale missile and drone assault named “Operation True Promise 3”, targeted Israeli jet fuel and energy facilities in retaliation, media reported.
Operation Sindhu remains ongoing, with further evacuations expected in the coming days, MEA added.
