In a continuing effort to bring home Indian nationals stranded in conflict-hit Iran, another evacuation flight landed in Delhi at 04.30 PM on Saturday (June 21), carrying 310 passengers. With this, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a total of 827 Indians have been evacuated so far under Operation Sindhu.
Earlier on Saturday, a Mahan Air flight from Mashhad carrying 256 Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, arrived safely at Delhi airport. The visibly exhausted students had spent several tense days in Iran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association thanked the Indian government for its prompt action and coordination with Iranian authorities. “We remain committed to ensuring the safe evacuation of all remaining students, especially those from vulnerable and remote regions,” the association said in a statement.
Another flight from Iran’s Mashhad, with 290 Indian students, also landed late Friday night. The movement of students from Tehran to Mashhad was closely coordinated by Indian and Iranian authorities. In a significant diplomatic gesture, Iran opened a dedicated airspace corridor for India’s evacuation efforts.
Two more flights are expected in the next 24 hours, including one from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, scheduled to arrive in Delhi around 3 am on Sunday.
The MEA had launched Operation Sindhu last week in response to the growing unrest in the Middle East that has disrupted civilian air travel and created uncertainty for foreign nationals. As many as 110 students were safely flown out via Armenia and Doha on Thursday.
“Heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs and all concerned authorities for their timely intervention and support,” reiterated the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association.