How Did Operation Sindhu Evacuate 110 Citizens from Iran?

New Delhi, June 19 (NationPress) Upon their safe arrival in New Delhi on Thursday, the 110 Indian citizens who were evacuated from Iran expressed their gratitude to the Narendra Modi-led Union government and the Indian embassies in Iran and Armenia for facilitating their evacuation amid the intensifying military conflict in the Middle East.

As part of Operation Sindhu, the first flight carrying these 110 Indian citizens landed in New Delhi after being successfully evacuated from Iran.

All evacuated nationals were transported to Delhi aboard IndiGo flight 6E 9487.

Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, was present at the airport to welcome the returning citizens, as reported by IANS.

The flight, which included 110 Indian students from Urmia Medical University in Iran, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at Terminal-3.

After receiving the evacuated individuals, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh stated, “We have planes on standby and are dispatching another one today. We are working to evacuate additional individuals from Turkmenistan. A further flight will be departing today, and our missions have established a 24-hour helpline for any evacuation requests. As circumstances change, we will be increasing the number of flights and chartered services to ensure all Indian nationals in Iran are safely evacuated…”

Several students shared their experiences with IANS after their evacuation from Iran amid growing military hostilities between Iran and Israel.

One student, reflecting on his experience in New Delhi, remarked, “The situation was incredibly perilous, and we were terrified. We witnessed drones, injured individuals, and the internet was non-functional... However, the Indian government stepped in, brought us home safely, and we are immensely proud. We are Indians, and India brought us back home…”

Another student expressed gratitude towards the Indian Embassy in Iran and Armenia, alongside the Modi government, stating, “Conditions in Iran are dire. Just two days prior, things were somewhat stable, but now it has worsened significantly... We are profoundly thankful to the Indian government for their exceptional evacuation efforts and treatment.”

Another student added, “The circumstances in Iran are undoubtedly grave... The Indian Embassies in both Iran and Armenia provided us with comprehensive support and prioritized our evacuation, ensuring we returned to India first.”

In light of escalating regional tensions, India has initiated 'Operation Sindhu' to evacuate its citizens from Iran.

The initial group of 110 Indian citizens, including 90 students from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday.

The evacuation was executed via Armenia, with students traveling by road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, under the guidance of Indian missions in both Iran and Armenia.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday evening that Indian students residing in Tehran were successfully evacuated through the Indian Embassy's coordination.

“Indian students in Tehran have been relocated for safety reasons through arrangements made by the Indian Embassy,” the Ministry stated in their official communication.

The Indian students departed from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, on a special flight at 14:55 IST on June 18, with their anticipated arrival in New Delhi during Thursday's early hours.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced via Twitter, “Operation Sindhu commences. India has initiated Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. A total of 110 students from northern Iran were evacuated after crossing into Armenia under the supervision of our missions in both Iran and Armenia on June 17.”

This operation is part of the numerous measures the Indian government has undertaken in recent days to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals stranded in Iran, who requested assistance due to the deteriorating situation following ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

The Indian government expressed gratitude towards the governments of Iran and Armenia for their cooperation in facilitating the evacuation process.

“India places the utmost importance on the safety and security of its citizens abroad. As part of the ongoing operation, the Indian Embassy in Iran has been assisting numerous Indian nationals in relocating from areas experiencing heightened hostilities to relatively safer locations within the country and subsequently evacuating them using available options,” the MEA stated.

The MEA advised Indian nationals in Iran to maintain contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline, as well as the 24/7 Control Room established by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.