Operation Sindhu: Indian Evacuees Land Safely in Delhi Amid Cheers of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'

In a significant relief operation dubbed Operation Sindhu, hundreds of Indian citizens, including students and religious pilgrims, have safely returned home from Iran. Two special flights landed in New Delhi after Tehran eased its airspace restrictions, which had been put in place following escalating tensions with Israel. The emotional arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was met with patriotic chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Hindustan Zindabad’ from the visibly relieved passengers.

The first flight, carrying 290 Indians, touched down early Friday, followed by a second flight on Saturday morning. These successful evacuations are a testament to India's swift and effective mission to bring its citizens back to safety amidst the volatile Israel-Iran conflict.

Heartfelt Gratitude from Evacuees

Returnees shared their harrowing experiences and profound gratitude towards the Indian government for their timely intervention. Tazkiya Fatima from Noida recounted the tense atmosphere in Iran, praising the seamless coordination by Indian authorities. “There is a situation of war over there. We were not sure how we would make it out of there, but the Government of India made the whole process very smooth. I am very thankful to the Indian government,” she stated, expressing immense relief.

Eliya Batool echoed these sentiments, describing her emotional return. “...I am unable to express what I am feeling right now. My family was very worried. In Iran, we were at ease, we were provided with a 5-star hotel and safety was provided to us. But after coming here, we feel at ease. Thank you so much, Indian government.”

Maulana Mohammad Saeed Saeed also lauded the safe evacuation efforts, remarking, “We are happy and grateful that we have been able to return home safe and sound. The situation in Iran is no good and we all know. Indian Embassy and our Ambassador made the evacuation process very smooth and safe…”

Mir Mohammad Musharraf from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, highlighted the crucial role of the Indian Embassy. "I am from Pulwama, Kashmir... Operation Sindhu is amazing and really helpful. The services were very good. We contacted our embassy. We were stuck in Tehran, unaware of what to do. Our landlords also left and were left behind. It was only our embassy that helped us reach here. Thank you so much, Indian government."

Airspace Eased After Tensions

The special flight carrying 290 Indians, predominantly students, arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport late Friday night at 11:30 PM IST. Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee was present to receive the evacuees.

Iran had previously shut its airspace until further notice on June 13, after Israel carried out air strikes on multiple targets across the country, including its capital, Tehran. The easing of these restrictions allowed for the successful execution of Operation Sindhu, bringing a sense of relief and security to hundreds of Indian families.