Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing military conflict between Iran and Israel, the Government of India has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in the conflict zones. As part of this operation, two special flights landed in Delhi today, bringing home a total of 453 Indian citizens.
Of these, 161 individuals were evacuated from Israel via land route through Jordan and then flown to Delhi, while 292 citizens arrived directly from Iran on a special flight. The returnees included a significant number of students, senior citizens, and working professionals. Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, many expressed deep gratitude towards the Indian Government, the Ministry of External Affairs, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising the swift and efficient evacuation efforts.
Indian Citizens Express Relief and Gratitude
Arvind Shukla, a student who had been studying in Israel since last September, shared his ordeal: “The area where I lived was relatively safer, but missiles would often fly over our heads. We heard sirens all night and rushed to bunkers repeatedly. We are truly thankful to the Indian Government and embassy officials.”
Among those returning from Israel was an elderly couple, Triyambak Kole and his wife. “There were constant explosions,” Triyambak said, “We are so grateful to PM Modi.” His wife added, “Six missiles flew right over us. We hid ourselves and prayed. Thank you for bringing us home safely.”
Iran Returnees Share Their Experiences
Faiz, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, said, “It feels amazing to be back. Being in our own country brings such comfort.”
Zeeva Jafri, another evacuee, said, “We are so grateful. Our original flight on June 19 got cancelled. We were so anxious, but now that we’re home, it’s a huge relief.”
Baljinder Kaur, a Hindi teacher who had been living in Iran for the past 21 years, remarked, “There was never any trouble for us before, but things changed rapidly in recent days. It’s a matter of pride to be brought back safely. Heartfelt thanks to our government and embassy.”
What Is Operation Sindhu?
Operation Sindhu is a large-scale evacuation initiative launched by the Government of India to bring back its citizens caught in the crossfire of the escalating military tensions in West Asia. The effort is being carried out by the Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with Indian embassies and local authorities. The government has made it clear that more flights will be deployed if necessary, ensuring that no Indian citizen is left behind in the crisis.
