The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that over 52,000 Indian nationals have been safely repatriated from the Gulf region to India between March 1 and March 7, following the outbreak of war in West Asia.
The MEA stated that of these, 32,107 passengers traveled on Indian airlines, while the rest were flown by foreign airlines. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Government of India has been continuously monitoring developments in West Asia and the Gulf region, with particular emphasis on the welfare of Indian nationals stranded in transit or during short-duration visits.
He said that the partial opening of airspace across the region in recent days has enabled both scheduled and unscheduled flights to operate, thereby facilitating the return of stranded passengers.
The MEA spokesperson said that more flights are planned in the coming days to ensure that those still awaiting evacuation can return home safely. Mr. Jaiswal added that all Indian nationals in the region have been advised to follow the guidelines of local authorities and the advisories issued by the Indian Embassy or Consulate in their respective locations.
He pointed out that each of India’s missions in the affected countries has already issued detailed advisories and set up 24/7 helplines to address concerns arising from the ongoing situation.
The MEA has also established a dedicated Special Control Room in New Delhi to monitor developments and respond to queries from those affected and their families.
Mr. Jaiswal advised Indian nationals in countries where commercial flight operations remain unavailable to contact the concerned Embassy or Consulate directly for information and guidance on the nearest available flight options.
