Amid the backdrop of the Iran-Israel conflict, another special flight under Operation Sindhu safely landed in New Delhi on Wednesday, bringing back 282 stranded Indian nationals from Iran. With this, the total number of Indian citizens evacuated under the operation has now reached 2,858.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the arrival via a post on X, stating that the evacuees had travelled from Mashhad to Delhi. The large-scale evacuation was initiated as tensions escalated in the region due to the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, which saw a tentative ceasefire agreement earlier this week.
Upon arrival at the airport, the atmosphere was filled with relief and gratitude. Many passengers praised the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Iran for their swift and organised rescue efforts. One of the evacuees, Syed Adil Mansoor, said, “I’m feeling good now. The situation there is better. The Indian Embassy stood by us throughout and made excellent arrangements.”
Another passenger, Mohammad Aseem, echoed similar sentiments, adding, “We just came back from Iran. We didn’t face any issues—thanks to the Embassy’s coordination.”
In an earlier flight on Tuesday, 281 Indians, along with three Sri Lankan and two Nepali nationals, were also safely brought back to New Delhi. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita personally welcomed the returnees and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Indian citizens abroad, while also extending support to neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka and Nepal.
In a statement, the Minister noted, “India stands firmly with its people in times of crisis and is equally committed to helping friends in the neighbourhood.”
