More than 11 lakh passengers have travelled from West Asia to India since late February as New Delhi stepped up evacuation and travel facilitation efforts amid the ongoing conflict in the region, the government said on Monday.
The figures were shared by Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, during an inter-ministerial briefing. He said that since February 28, around 11.3 lakh passengers have returned to India through a mix of commercial and special flight operations.
Flights continue to operate from countries where airspace remains open, albeit in a limited capacity depending on safety considerations. Around 110 flights were expected to operate between the United Arab Emirates and India on Monday alone, he said.
Operations are also underway from airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman, while Qatar’s partially reopened airspace is facilitating 10–11 daily flights by Qatar Airways to Indian destinations.
Mahajan said that while some airspaces remain shut or restricted, alternative arrangements are being made to ensure the movement of Indian nationals.
Bahrain has reopened its airspace, with Gulf Air planning to resume limited services to India. Meanwhile, non-scheduled commercial flights are being operated from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to Indian cities.
Airspace in Iran remains partially open for cargo and chartered flights. The Indian embassy in Tehran is facilitating the evacuation of nationals through land routes via Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“So far, 2,423 Indian nationals have moved out of Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan. This includes 1,091 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen,” Mahajan said.
Similarly, Iraq’s airspace is partially open, allowing limited flight operations for onward travel. While Kuwait’s airspace remains closed, airlines are operating non-scheduled flights from Saudi Arabia to facilitate passenger movement.
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Govt monitoring situation, assistance continues
In Israel, airspace has reopened partially, with India facilitating the movement of its nationals through neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia, focusing on the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora in the region.
A dedicated control room has been set up in the ministry, working in coordination with Indian missions and posts that are operating round-the-clock helplines to assist nationals.
Mahajan said special attention is being given to Indian seafarers, with missions extending consular assistance and coordinating with local authorities to facilitate their return.
Meanwhile, Randhir Jaiswal said during the briefing that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently visited Saudi Arabia, where discussions focused on regional developments and strengthening bilateral ties.
With the ceasefire window nearing its end, India remains engaged with key stakeholders, including Israel, Palestine and Iran, to safeguard its strategic and economic interests.
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