India initiates ‘Operation Sindhu’ to repatriate nationals from war-affected areas in Iran.

In light of the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, the Indian government has launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ aimed at the safe evacuation of its citizens stranded in war-affected areas, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.

During the initial phase of this operation, 110 Indian students were successfully rescued from northern Iran. They were transported overland to Armenia on June 17, with support from Indian diplomatic missions in both Iran and Armenia. Subsequently, they took a special flight from Yerevan on June 18 at 2:55 pm IST, anticipated to arrive in New Delhi in the early morning hours of June 19.

The MEA expressed its appreciation to the governments of Iran and Armenia for their role in facilitating a seamless evacuation process.
“India prioritizes the safety and security of its nationals abroad. As part of the ongoing operation, the Indian Embassy in Iran is assisting numerous Indian nationals in relocating from areas experiencing heightened tensions to relatively secure locations within the country and to arrange their evacuation through all viable options,” the ministry stated.

The Indian embassy in Tehran, alongside the mission in Armenia, has been actively moving citizens from high-risk regions in Iran to safer areas while coordinating further evacuation efforts through all available routes.

To oversee and support this operation, the government has set up a 24×7 Control Room in New Delhi to monitor the situation and assist affected nationals. The control room can be reached at the toll-free number 1800118797, or by phone at +91-11-23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905, and via WhatsApp at +91-9968291988. Queries can also be sent to situationroom@mea.gov.in.

Furthermore, the Embassy of India in Tehran has established its own 24×7 emergency helpline to aid citizens on the ground. Contact numbers for calls include +98 9128109115 and +98 9128109109, while WhatsApp contacts are +98 901044557, +98 9015993320, and +91 8086871709. Emergency helplines are also available in Bandar Abbas (+98 9177699036) and Zahedan (+98 9396356649), with email support at cons.tehran@mea.gov.in.

The MEA reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Indian nationals overseas and assured ongoing efforts to ensure their secure return amidst the current crisis.