Operation Sindhu: 110 Indian students evacuated from Tehran amid Israel-Iran conflict

The students, who were received at the national capital by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, were first evacuated from Tehran to Armenia through land borders on Tuesday.

The Indian nationals travelled from Armenia's capital Yerevan to New Delhi on a special flight this morning.

The students narrated the tense situation currently prevailing in Iran which is engaged in an exchange of fire with Israel.

"A bit sad because I had to leave my studies and return. I was in my fourth year. But I feel relieved now to get a chance to be reunited with my parents. I had lost hope of meeting my family again for the kind of situation currently prevailing in Iran... I hope the war ends and I can go back and complete my studies," says a student speaking to ANI.

"I am very thankful to the Indian government for whatever they did. It was so smooth for us..."

An Indian national evacuated from Iran as part of Operation Sindhu, says, "...When the Govt of India told us they were taking us home, it felt like I was looking at my mother. I felt so happy."

An MBBS student evacuated from Iran as part of Operation Sindhu, told ANI, "We are very happy to be back in our country. The situation is really bad there. We saw the missiles being launched and intercepted by Iran. We are thankful to the government for evacuating us."

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, "Operation Sindhu brings people home.

"110 Indian students evacuated from Iran under #OperationSindhu have safely arrived in New Delhi on a special flight from Yerevan, Armenia. MoS @KVSinghMPGonda received them at the airport. Government of remains committed to the safety of Indian nationals."

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

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association (JKSA) in a statement thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the timely evacuation effort.

The JKSA said it remains hopeful that all remaining students will be evacuated soon.

All flight tickets, including the Delhi to Srinagar leg, have been arranged at no cost by the Union government, the students' body said in a post on X.

"We deeply appreciate this effort to ensure a smooth, full journey home," it said.

Emergency Helpline numbers of Embassy of India in Tehran:

i. For call only : +98 9128109115, +98 9128109109
ii. For WhatsApp: +98 901044557, +98 9015993320, +91 8086871709
iii. ⁠Bandar Abbas: +98 9177699036
iv. Zahedan: +98 9396356649
v. Email- cons.tehran@mea.gov.in
Helpline numbers of 24 X 7 Control Room set-up by Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi:
800118797 (Toll free) , +91-11-23012113 , +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905
WhatsApp: +91-9968291988 ; Email- situationroom@mea.gov.in