How Many Indians Have Been Evacuated Amid Iran-Israel Tensions?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Operation Sindhu successfully evacuated 827 Indian nationals from Iran.
- The government prioritizes the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.
- International cooperation from Iran, Armenia, and Turkmenistan was vital for the evacuations.
- Efforts to repatriate Indians from Israel are underway.
- Evacuees expressed gratitude for the government's swift action.
New Delhi, June 21 (NationPress) A total of 827 Indian nationals have been successfully evacuated from the conflict-affected Iran under the government’s ongoing ‘Operation Sindhu', initiated in light of the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the latest evacuation flight from Mashhad, which carried 310 Indians, landed in Delhi at 4:30 PM on Saturday.
Upon their arrival at the Delhi airport, the evacuees waved Indian flags and chanted patriotic slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, expressing their emotions.
One evacuee stated, “I was afraid, but the place where we were staying was technically safe. When the Indian embassy took the initiative to evacuate us, we moved out safely to India. Hats off to the government,” according to IANS.
Another returnee, Qamar Jahan, remarked, “The government of India did a lot for us. We received good food with great care. Our stomachs were full and we had no trouble at all during the journey. PM Modi did a lot for us, and we will pray for him.”
Similarly, another returnee recounted, “I was afraid, but the place where we were staying was technically safe. When the Indian embassy took the initiative to evacuate us, we moved out safely to India. Hats off to the government...”
Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs, informed IANS earlier: “Today, the third flight under Operation Sindhu arrived from Iran with nearly 290 Indians, including 190 from Jammu and Kashmir. Their smiles are the biggest prize for us.”
Chatterjee also expressed gratitude for Iran’s cooperation in opening its airspace and recognized the assistance of Armenia and Turkmenistan in ensuring safe passage.
He stressed that the “safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad remains the top priority” for the government and mentioned ongoing efforts to repatriate more Indians still stranded in Iran.
In light of the ongoing crisis, India has also initiated dialogues with Israeli authorities to guarantee the safe evacuation of Indians from Israel.
“Very soon, flights will be arranged to bring our people back from Israel too,” Chatterjee assured.