Chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Hindustan Zindabad" reverberated through Delhi Airport late Friday night as a special flight carrying 290 Indian nationals evacuated from war-hit Iran landed safely, bringing a wave of relief to hundreds of families.
The evacuees, a mix of students, religious pilgrims, and professionals, returned under Operation Sindhu, India’s latest rescue mission launched amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The government’s swift coordination and execution of the operation won praise from passengers who described the effort as smooth, efficient, and reassuring.
'Didn't know if we would make it back'
Among the returnees was Tazkiya Fatima, a resident of Noida, who spoke emotionally about the uncertainty they faced in Iran. “There is a situation of war over there. We were not sure how we would make it out of there, but the Government of India made the whole process very smooth. I am very thankful to the Indian government,” she said upon landing.
Mohammad Ali Qazim, an Indian National evacuated from Iran, said, "I am coming from Mashhad. It feels very good to return home. We had gone on a religious journey. The situation there is not good, especially in Tehran... Indian government helped us a lot in crossing the border and bringing us to India. The UP government is also helping us a lot by taking us back home."
Emotional reunion and praise for embassy support
Eliya Batool, another evacuee, shared her gratitude, highlighting the comfort provided even while abroad. “My family was very worried. In Iran, we were at ease, we were provided with a 5-star hotel and safety was ensured. But after coming here, we feel at peace. Thank you so much, Indian government. We did not face any issue because our Embassy made everything easy for us.”
Mir Mohammad Musharraf, another evacuee from Iran, said, "I am from Pulwama, Kashmir... Operation Sindhu is amazing and really helpful. The services were very good. We contacted our embassy. We were stuck in Tehran, unaware of what to do. Our landlords also left and were left behind. It was only our embassy that helped us reach here. Thank you so much, Indian government."
Operation Sindhu in focus
Operation Sindhu was launched in response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in parts of Iran following missile exchanges and heightened hostilities in the Middle East. Indian authorities acted swiftly to identify citizens at risk and facilitate their safe passage back home.
Speaking on the evacuation, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV& OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, said "The third flight carrying 290 Indian nationals from Iran, as part of Operation Sindhu, has landed. 190 out of them are from J&K, others are from Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, and other states. It is a matter of happiness for us that the Government of Iran has opened its airspace for us, and it shows the relationship between India and Iran... These people are very happy on reaching home, and they have thanked the Indian government. Operation Sindhu flights will soon commence from Israel as well."