Author: Akshay Published Date: 22 June 2025
Crisis in Iran: India’s Swift Response
As missiles lit up Iranian skies in mid-June 2025, over 4,000 Indians – mostly medical students – found themselves trapped in a warzone. Within 72 hours of the first strikes, India launched Operation Sindhu, orchestrating a daring multi-nation evacuation that’s brought 827 citizens home to safety as of June 21.
✈️ By the Numbers
- 827 evacuated via 3 air corridors
- 110 medical students from Urmia
- 600+ still awaiting evacuation
- 4 countries coordinated (Iran, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Qatar)
The Evacuation Unfolded: Phase by Phase
June 17-19: The Armenia Route
- 110 students bussed from Urmia to Yerevan under diplomatic escort
- First charter flight lands in Delhi June 19
- MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh personally receives evacuees
June 20-21: Mashhad & Turkmenistan Lifelines
- 290 evacuated via Mashhad (Northeast Iran)
- 310 extracted through Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
- Emotional reunions at Delhi airport
Inside the Danger Zone: Student Accounts
“We watched drones streak across our university windows – then the power went out.”
– Kashmiri medical student, Tehran University
“For three days, I couldn’t tell my mother I was alive. When the embassy bus arrived, we cried like babies.”
– Priya Sharma, Urmia Medical College
“That 450km drive from Tehran to Mashhad? We saw bombed buildings and bodies by the roadside.”
– Anonymous evacuee
Diplomatic Triumph: How India Made It Happen
Unprecedented Access
Iran granted special air corridors despite closed airspace – a testament to backchannel diplomacy.
24/7 War Room
- MEA helplines in Tehran/Yerevan/Ashgabat
- Real-time updates by spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
- Collaboration with Nepal/Sri Lanka for their citizens
Legacy of Rescue
Building on past successes:
- Operation Ganga (Ukraine 2022): 18,000+ rescued
- Operation Kaveri (Sudan 2023): 3,800 saved
The Road Ahead
- Additional flights planned via the Azerbaijan corridor
- Focus on 600+ students in Isfahan/Tabriz
- MEA negotiating wider airspace access
Why This Matters
For Families
Zubeda (Srinagar): “When my son called from the bus to Mashhad, I finally breathed after 5 sleepless nights.”
For Diplomacy
Proves India can execute complex rescues amid active conflict – a soft power victory.
For Global Indians
Reinforces that no citizen is abandoned, echoing PM’s pledge: “Wherever you are, we’ll bring you home.”
Operation Sindhu vs. Past Rescues
| Operation | Year | Citizens Rescued | Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuwait Airlift | 1990 | 170,000 | Gulf War ground invasion |
| Ganga | 2022 | 18,000 | Active warzone in Europe |
| Sindhu | 2025 | 800+ (ongoing) | Airspace closures/missile threats |
Operation Sindhu isn’t just about numbers – it’s about India’s promise kept. As explosions rocked Iran, diplomats became lifelines, pilots flew into danger, and students discovered their nation wouldn’t abandon them. With hundreds still awaiting rescue, the mission continues – but for 827 families tonight, the nightmare is over.