SRINAGAR: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said that more than 500 Indian nationals have returned from Iran under Operation Sindhu so far.
The update was shared through a post on X, noting that the evacuation continues as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates. Additional groups, including students, arrived in Delhi late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
#OperationSindhu flight brings citizens home.
🇮🇳 evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran, including students and religious pilgrims by a charter flight. The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV& OIA) Arun Chatterjee.
Government… pic.twitter.com/ZORq0aeza5
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 20, 2025
India had launched Operation Sindhu on Wednesday to evacuate its nationals from Iran amid rising regional tensions.
“#OperationSindhu flight brings citizens home. India evacuated 290 nationals, including students and religious pilgrims, via a charter flight. The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Chatterjee,” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
He also expressed gratitude to the Government of Iran for facilitating the evacuation.
In a separate post, he shared that a special flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21 June, bringing back more evacuees. With this, a total of 517 Indian nationals have returned under the operation.
#OperationSindhu continues.
A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home.
With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu. pic.twitter.com/xYfpoxwJtw
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2025
The first batch of 110 Indians arrived on Thursday, many of whom described the tense conditions they experienced before evacuation. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed them at Delhi airport.
