Operation Sindhu: 17 Telugu evacuees return to Delhi from Iran

Operation Sindhu has facilitated the return of 1,713 Indians amid the Iran-Israel conflict, using alternative routes via Armenia and Turkmenistan

New Delhi/Amaravati: A total of 20 Telugu-speaking individuals have been safely evacuated from war-affected Iran under Operation Sindhu so far, and 17 of them arrived in New Delhi early Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Commissioner in Delhi, Arja Srikanth, said.

Launched by the Ministry of External Affairs, the operation has facilitated the return of 1,713 Indians amid the Iran-Israel conflict, using alternate routes via Armenia and Turkmenistan, he added.

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“Evacuees were first relocated from Tehran to safer cities like Mashhad and Qom, with the Indian Embassy coordinating transport. Seventeen members arrived in Delhi from Iran today (Tuesday) before 6 am ,” Srikanth said in a press release.

Of the 17, ten checked into Andhra Bhavan, while the remaining seven stayed at the airport to catch connecting flights for their onward journey, he said. Following diplomatic efforts, Iran reopened its airspace, enabling six Mahan Air flights between June 20 and 22 that brought back 1,568 Indian nationals. Another flight on June 22 facilitated additional returns, he noted.

Srikanth stated that Andhra Pradesh Bhavan has arranged reception, lodging, meals, healthcare, and onward transport for all evacuees from the state. Coordination is ongoing with the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu Society (APNRTS) and other volunteer groups to provide psychological and logistical support, the release said.

He also mentioned that efforts are continuing to evacuate the remaining 800 Indians, prioritising students and other vulnerable individuals still stranded in conflict-affected regions.