Over 52,000 Indians Return Home from Gulf Amid Rising Regional Tensions, Says MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs announced late Saturday that more than 52,000 Indian nationals have been safely transported back to India from various countries in the Gulf region during the period between March 1 and March 7.
Providing an official update through the social media platform X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that out of the total evacuees, 32,107 passengers travelled aboard flights operated by Indian airlines.
According to the spokesperson, the Government of India has been closely observing the rapidly evolving situation across West Asia and the Gulf nations.
Particular attention has been placed on ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian citizens who found themselves stranded in the region while transiting through airports or visiting for short durations.
In its statement, the ministry reiterated that safeguarding Indian nationals living or travelling abroad remains a top priority for the government.
It added that Indian authorities are actively coordinating with the governments of several countries in the region to help provide assistance and facilitate the safe movement of those requiring help.
The ministry also advised Indian citizens currently present in these countries to carefully adhere to instructions issued by local authorities as well as advisories released by the Indian embassies and consulates operating in those locations.
Jaiswal further informed that round-the-clock helplines have been established by Indian diplomatic missions in each of the Gulf countries to support Indian nationals requiring assistance.
In addition, a dedicated Special Control Room has been created to monitor the situation and address queries raised by affected individuals and their families.
He explained that since airspaces in parts of the region have gradually reopened during the week, both Indian and international airlines have resumed commercial services.
These include regular scheduled flights as well as additional special flights arranged to help passengers travel back to India.
The MEA spokesperson also urged Indian nationals currently staying in areas where commercial flight services are still unavailable to get in touch directly with the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.
These diplomatic missions, he said, will provide information about the closest available travel options and guidance on evacuation arrangements.
Earlier in the week, India had appealed to all parties involved in the ongoing conflict to exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of civilians.
The government also acknowledged that a few Indian citizens had lost their lives while others were reported missing amid the escalating tensions.
Referring to the widening scope of the conflict in recent days, government officials highlighted that nearly one crore Indian citizens live and work across the Gulf region, making their safety a matter of significant national concern.
On March 2, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Narendra Modi, reviewed the developments and expressed serious concern about the protection of the large Indian expatriate community residing in Gulf countries.
The committee instructed all relevant government departments to take necessary and practical measures to assist Indians affected by the situation.
Following these directions, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the central government is fully prepared to facilitate the safe return of Indians stranded in the Gulf region and remains in continuous contact with Indian diplomatic missions abroad to monitor their safety.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi issued an advisory cautioning people against engaging in unauthorised filming of sensitive locations such as incident sites, restricted areas or inside airports across the United Arab Emirates.
The embassy also urged Indian nationals living in or visiting the UAE to strictly follow local regulations and comply with safety advisories issued by authorities in the country.
The advisory emphasised that all residents should carefully observe the instructions to avoid legal complications. It specifically warned individuals to immediately move to a secure location whenever a warning alert is issued and remain there until authorities declare the situation safe.
Citizens were also cautioned not to step outside shelters or attempt to record photographs or videos during emergency alerts.
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