India Initiates ‘Operation Sindhu’ to Bring Back Stranded Citizens from Iran

India Launches ‘Operation Sindhu’ to Evacuate Citizens from War-Torn Iran.

As tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, the Indian government has launched ‘Operation Sindhu’ to evacuate its citizens stranded in conflict-affected regions of Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

In the first phase of the mission, 110 Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, were safely moved from Urmia in northern Iran to Armenia on June 17 with help from Indian missions in both countries. The group then boarded a special flight from Yerevan on June 18 and is expected to reach New Delhi in the early hours of June 19.

The MEA thanked the governments of Iran and Armenia for facilitating the evacuation and emphasized that the safety of Indian nationals abroad remains a top priority. “Our embassy in Iran has been assisting Indian nationals in relocating to safer zones and arranging their evacuation through all available and feasible options,” the ministry said.

To coordinate efforts, a 24×7 Control Room has been set up in New Delhi. Emergency helplines have also been activated by the Indian Embassy in Tehran and across Iran, including in Bandar Abbas and Zahedan.

Control Room Contact Details:

Toll-Free: 1800 118 797

Phone: +91 11 23012113 / 23014104 / 23017905

WhatsApp: +91 9968291988

Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in

Indian Embassy in Tehran Emergency Contacts:

Calls: +98 9128109115 / +98 9128109109

WhatsApp: +98 901044557 / +98 9015993320 / +91 8086871709

Email: cons.tehran@mea.gov.in

Bandar Abbas: +98 9177699036

Zahedan: +98 9396356649

Rescued Student Speaks Out

“We are very thankful to the Indian government. Our university asked us to return. Around 110 of us are heading back, and we’re currently en route to Delhi.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association confirmed that the group, mainly from Urmia Medical University, safely crossed into Armenia before being flown home.

Tensions Rise in Middle East
The evacuation effort comes amid rising conflict in the region. The situation worsened after Israel bombed Iranian nuclear and military sites, reportedly killing top generals and scientists. On Wednesday, fresh Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran, including District 18 near Mehrabad Airport, sparking loud explosions and plumes of smoke across the city, according to AFP.

With the conflict deepening, Operation Sindhu is expected to continue in phases as India monitors the situation closely.