Author: Akshay Published Date: June 19, 2025
Crisis in the Crossfire
As missiles lit up the skies over Tehran in the latest Iran-Israel escalation, 110 Indian medical students huddled in dorm rooms at Urmia Medical University. Their desperate messages home sparked immediate action: Operation Sindhu – India’s high-stakes mission to evacuate citizens trapped in the conflict zone. Within hours, the first rescue flight soared out of Armenia, carrying these students to safety in New Delhi.
The Great Escape: Journey to Safety
The operation unfolded with military precision:
- June 17: Indian diplomats in Tehran arranged buses to transport students 300 km to the Armenia-Iran border.
- Border Crossing: Iranian authorities granted special passage as explosions rocked Tehran.
- Air Lift: Students boarded an Air India charter in Yerevan, touching down in Delhi before dawn on June 19.
“We thought we were stranded forever. When we saw Indian officials at the border, we cried,” shared Kashmiri student Ayesha Raza.
Why Armenia Became the Lifeline
With Iranian airspace shut down, India’s diplomatic corps pulled off a logistical miracle:
✅ Land Corridor: Armenia kept borders open despite regional tensions
✅ Regional Allies: Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan provided backup routes
✅ Real-Time Coordination: MEA teams tracked buses via satellite amid blackouts
“This isn’t just geography—it’s trust forged through diplomacy,” noted former ambassador Rajiv Dogra.
Inside the Rescue Machine
The MEA’s war-room response:
- 24/7 Command Center in Delhi fielded 1,200+ distress calls
- WhatsApp Helplines relayed evacuation coordinates to students
- Safe Houses established in Qom for 1,500+ awaiting evacuation
- Medical Kits distributed near conflict hotspots
Next phase: 3 more flights planned via Azerbaijan this week.
Who Was Rescued?
- 110 Medical Students: Primarily from Jammu & Kashmir
- 15 Faculty Members: Including 3 pregnant professors
- 46 Workers: Construction laborers from Punjab and Bihar
Remaining in Iran: Over 1,400 Indians under embassy protection in Qom.
Lessons from Past Missions
Operation Sindhu channels India’s evacuation playbook:
| Mission | Crisis | Citizens Rescued |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Raahat (2015) | Yemen Civil War | 5,600+ |
| Operation Ganga (2022) | Ukraine War | 25,000+ |
| Operation Sindhu (2025) | Iran-Israel War | 110+ (ongoing) |
Key improvement: Real-time app tracking replaces paper manifests.
Human Cost of Conflict
For parents in Srinagar, the operation ended sleepless nights:
*”When missiles hit near Tehran University, we lost contact with our son for 18 hours. The MEA helpline guided us minute-by-minute,”* recounted Mohsin Ahmed, father of third-year medical student Faisal.
What’s Next?
- Phase 2: Evacuation flights from Azerbaijan starting June 21
- Digital SOS System: PAN-based tracking for Indians abroad (pilot launch Sept 2025)
- Conflict Preparedness: Emergency drills are planned at Indian embassies worldwide
Why Operation Sindhu Matters
This isn’t just logistics—it’s India’s covenant with its citizens:
“When your passport says ‘Republic of India’, you’re never alone. Even in hell, we’ll find you.”
– External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing evacuees