110 Indian students evacuated from Iran set to land in New Delhi as India launches 'Operation Sindhu'

IANS June 18, 2025 396 views

India has successfully evacuated 110 students from northern Iran amid escalating tensions. The students were moved to Armenia before boarding a special flight to New Delhi. The government thanked Iran and Armenia for their cooperation in the rescue mission. Emergency helplines remain active for other Indians still in the conflict zone.

"India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad." – Ministry of External Affairs
110 Indian students evacuated from Iran set to land in New Delhi as India launches 'Operation Sindhu'
New Delhi, June 18: As many as 110 Indian students evacuated from northern Iran will arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday as India launched 'Operation Sindhu' to evacuate its nationals from the warzone.

Key Points

1

110 students evacuated via Armenia amid Iran-Israel conflict

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Special flight brings them to Delhi

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MEA thanks Iran and Armenia for cooperation

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Emergency helplines activated for stranded Indians

"The Indian Embassy has evacuated 110 Indian students from northern Iran, assisting them in safely crossing over into Armenia on 17th June 2025. The students have travelled by road to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, under the supervision of our Missions in Iran and Armenia. These students departed Yerevan on a special flight at 1455 hrs on 18th June 2025 and will arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of 19th June 2025 as part of the initial stages of Operation Sindhu," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday.

This is part of the many steps that the government has taken over the last several days for the safety and security of Indian nationals stuck in Iran and called for help in view of the deteriorating situation due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

The government of India said that it is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for the smooth facilitation of the evacuation process.

"India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. As part of the ongoing operation, the Indian Embassy in Iran has been assisting large numbers of Indian nationals in moving from areas seeing increased hostilities to relatively safer areas within the country and to subsequently evacuate them using the available and feasible options," the MEA stated.

The MEA advised Indian nationals in Iran to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline, and with the 24x7 Control Room established by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Proud of our government for acting swiftly to bring our students home safely! 🇮🇳 Operation Sindhu shows India's commitment to its citizens abroad. Hope others still stuck there can return soon. Big thanks to Iran and Armenia for cooperating in this humanitarian effort.
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Priya M.
As someone whose cousin was among those evacuated, I can't express my relief enough! 🙏 The embassy staff worked day and night to make this happen. But I wonder - why do so many Indian students go to conflict-prone areas for education? We need better awareness about safer alternatives.
A
Amit S.
Good job by MEA, but this evacuation should have happened sooner. Many parents were worried sick for weeks. Also, why only 110 students? There must be hundreds more Indians in Iran. Hope the government has a plan for all of them. Safety of Indians abroad should be top priority.
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Sunita R.
This reminds me of Operation Ganga during Ukraine war. Our government has become quite efficient in evacuation operations. But the real test will be rehabilitating these students - many must have paid heavy fees and lost academic years. Hope HRD Ministry steps in to help them continue studies in India.
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Vikram J.
While we appreciate the evacuation, we must ask why Indian students choose Iran for education when we have excellent medical/technical colleges in India itself. "Foreign degree" obsession needs to stop, especially when it puts lives at risk. #StudyInIndia
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Neha P.
Heartwarming to see India's diplomatic strength in action! 💪 The coordination between Iran, Armenia and India shows how global partnerships matter in crises. Hope the returning students get proper counseling - war trauma is real. Maybe our embassies should maintain lists of Indians in risky zones beforehand?

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Tags:
Operation Sindhu Iran evacuation Indian students MEA Armenia Iran-Israel conflict