India’s first evacuation flight under Operation Sindhu landed in Delhi on 19 June 2025
Short Summary
India’s first evacuation flight under Operation Sindhu landed in Delhi on 19 June 2025, safely bringing back 110 Indian students who had escaped the escalating Israel–Iran conflict by travelling via Armenia . These students, many studying medicine in Iran, recounted terrifying scenes of missile strikes, drone attacks, and bombings in Tehran and its suburbs . The evacuation effort, planned by the MEA, included 24×7 helpline support and collaboration with Armenia and Turkmenistan . Families and student associations expressed deep gratitude while urging further rescues of those still stranded .
Operation Sindhu: How India Safely Evacuated Students From Iran
1. What Sparked “Operation Sindhu”?
When the Israel–Iran tensions suddenly escalated in mid-June 2025, India found itself facing an urgent situation. Hundreds of Indian students—many enrolled in medical colleges in Tehran, Qom, Shiraz, Urmia, and other cities—were caught in the crossfire of airstrikes, missiles, and drone attacks
With bomb blasts and military activity reaching city outskirts, students recounted scenes of terror: “we could see missiles,” “neighbourhoods bombed,” and having to stay in basements . It became a race against time to get them out before communication and transportation networks collapsed.
2. What Is Operation Sindhu?
Operation Sindhu, launched on 18 June 2025, was India’s rapid humanitarian response to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid a sudden military escalation . Named after the great river Sindhu—symbolic of connection and flow—it embodied India’s swift diplomacy and logistics.
Led by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this mission involved:
- Coordinating safe overland passage from Iran to Yerevan, Armenia
- Securing charter flight slots with carriers like IndiGo
- Working with Armenian and Turkmen authorities on transit
- Setting up a 24×7 MEA control room and helpline for students and families
With these pieces in place, the first evacuation batch was ready by mid‑week.
3. The Evacuation Journey: Step by Step
a. Stranded in Iran
By 17 June, over 4000 Indian nationals—including 1500–2000 students—were spread across Iran Many found refuge in university dorms or residential basements, enduring intermittent internet, constant fear, and missile sirens
b. Overland Transit to Armenia
Under embassy guidance, the first group of 110 students departed from northern Iran (for instance, Urmia and Tehran) by bus through Qom. They reached the Armenia border via Turkmenistan routes, with help from local authorities
c. Shaft of Hope in Yerevan
Arriving on 18 June in Yerevan, the students stayed in government-arranged hotels. The MEA thanked the Armenian government for their prompt support .
d. The Rescue Flight Touchdown
On 18 June afternoon, the students boarded a special IndiGo flight from Yerevan, landing at New Delhi’s IGI Airport early on 19 June Many had delayed or connecting flights yet arrived safely.
4. Voices of Relief and Concern
- Mir Khalif (MBBS student): “we could see missiles… our neighbourhood was bombed… very afraid”
- Varta (from Kashmir): “When the Indian government came to our doorstep it felt like home.”
- Ali Akbar (Delhi student): “Tehran has been destroyed.”
Parents—like Haider Ali and Parvez Alam—waited anxiously and expressed gratitude while urging swift rescue for remaining students . The J&K Students’ Association thanked PM Modi and FM Jaishankar for the rescue, adding, “We remain hopeful that all remaining students will be evacuated soon.”
5. What’s Next? Further Evacuations
This first flight was only Stage 1. The MEA has announced:
- Additional flights are scheduled, including from Turkmenistan
- Continued overland relocations to safer border points
- 24×7 helpline and email support for stranded Indians
If tensions intensify, more students and other Indian nationals will be moved through similar routes via Yerevan and Islamabad.
6. Strategic Collaboration
India’s successful evacuation relied on regional cooperation:
- Armenia offered transit, lodging, and flight permissions
- Turkmenistan provided letter-of-intent and safe passage
- Neighboring airspace clearance and transit routes were secured through proactive diplomacy
This series of logistical achievements within 48 hours underscores India’s quick foreign policy response.
7. Emotional Impact on Students
Many evacuees were mid-semester when they had to abandon studies and safety:
- Medical students paused critical training
- Cultural connections pulled them away from universities they’d chosen for affordability and community
- The emotional toll of fleeing a war zone shook many
Yet upon arrival, relaxation replaced fear. With journalists capturing heartfelt reunions, students described the day India flew them home as “like coming back to life.”
8. Lessons Learned & Preparedness
Operation Sindhu demonstrates:
- The importance of crisis-ready consulates, with rapid alerts, helplines, and evacuation frameworks
- Diplomatic agility across borders under fire
- Learning from past efforts (like Operation Ganga, Ukraine 2022) and adapting those playbooks
Google maps lighting up with evacuation corridors, evacuations by bus and air, and safe zones—all anchored in coordination—could shape future crisis protocols.
Long-tail keywords like “flight carrying 110 Indian students evacuated from Iran lands in Delhi” will drive targeted traffic.
Suggested pillars:
- Informational: What is Operation Sindhu?
- Emotional: Student stories from war zones
- Practical: How to stay updated if you’re abroad
- Comparative: Learnings from past evacuation missions
FAQs
1. What triggered Operation Sindhu?
Escalating military strikes between Israel and Iran in mid-June 2025, putting Indian students in danger.
2. How did students travel from Iran to Delhi?
They were bused to Armenia via Turkmenistan, stayed temporarily in hotels, then flown by IndiGo to Delhi.
3. How many Indians were evacuated in the first wave?
110 students arrived on 19 June 2025, with more flights already planned.
4. What support did India provide?
The MEA set up a 24×7 control room and helpline, organized logistics, and worked with Armenia and Turkmenistan for safe transit.
5. Are there still Indian students in Iran?
Yes—thousands remain. India is actively relocating them to safer areas and flying them out in subsequent waves.
