By The Sampadak Express
New Delhi: Over 500 Indian nationals have returned home from Iran amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Saturday. The evacuations are part of "Operation Sindhu," a mission launched by the Indian government to ensure the safe return of its citizens from the conflict zone.
Providing an update on social media platform X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a total of 517 Indian nationals have been brought back safely so far through special evacuation flights.
A chartered flight carrying 290 Indians, including students and religious pilgrims, landed in New Delhi at 11:30 PM on June 20. The returnees were received by Arun Chatterjee, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa & Overseas Indian Affairs).“#OperationSindhu flight brings citizens home. India evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran… The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Chatterjee,” Jaiswal posted on X.
The MEA also expressed gratitude to the Iranian government for facilitating the evacuation process.
In another development, an evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan carrying Indians who had been moved out of Iran landed in New Delhi at 3:00 AM on June 21. This flight further increased the total number of evacuees to 517.
The first group of evacuees, comprising 110 individuals, arrived on Thursday. Several of them shared distressing accounts of the situation in Iran before being relocated to safety. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh personally welcomed the returnees at Delhi airport.
India initiated Operation Sindhu on Wednesday in response to the deteriorating security situation in Iran, with the aim of ensuring the timely evacuation of all Indian citizens from affected areas.
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