Operation Sindhu: India Expands Iran Evacuation to Include Nepal, Sri Lanka Nationals
New Delhi/Tehran : In a significant humanitarian gesture, India will now assist in evacuating citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka from conflict-hit Iran, following formal requests from the respective governments. The move comes as regional tensions flare in the wake of ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel.
The Indian Embassy in Iran announced the expansion of its evacuation operation — Operation Sindhu — to include nationals from the two neighbouring South Asian countries.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Embassy stated, “On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka.”
Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals currently in Iran have been urged to immediately contact the Indian Embassy through its Telegram channel or via emergency numbers:
📞 +98 9010144557 | +98 9128109115 | +98 9128109109
India Brings Home 311 Nationals from Iran
On Sunday, 311 Indian nationals stranded in Iran were safely brought back to New Delhi on a special evacuation flight from Mashhad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the group landed at 4:30 PM on June 22, marking a continued effort under Operation Sindhu.
So far, 1,428 Indian citizens have been evacuated from Iran as part of this mission.
Earlier Evacuation of Students via Armenia
As part of the initial phase of the operation, India had earlier evacuated 110 Indian students from northern Iran, who were transported by road to Armenia under the joint supervision of Indian missions in Tehran and Yerevan. These students later flew to New Delhi on June 18.
The Indian government also expressed its gratitude to the Governments of Iran and Armenia for their cooperation and assistance in facilitating the evacuations.
India’s Proactive Role in Crisis Response
With the security situation in Iran worsening due to escalating military tensions with Israel, the Government of India has adopted a multi-phase evacuation strategy to ensure the safety of its nationals and now, as a regional leader, is extending that support to neighbouring countries.
