Indian nationals arrive at IGI Airport, New Delhi, late Friday (Jan 16) after advisories urged citizens to leave Iran due to a volatile situation. - Photo: ANI
NEW DELHI: Several Indian nationals arrived late Friday (Jan 16) at Indira Gandhi International Airport after leaving Iran as tensions escalated there. The returns follow advisories issued by New Delhi and the Indian Embassy in Tehran, asking citizens to depart due to a volatile security situation.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is closely tracking developments and is “committed to doing whatever is necessary for their well-being.” Families gathered at the airport through the night, many relieved after days of uncertainty and broken communication.
‘Conditions are bad there’: Returnees recount last days in Iran
Those who landed spoke of mounting problems in recent weeks. One returnee described the situation as deteriorating and thanked authorities for helping with timely information and coordination.
“The conditions are bad there. The Government of India is cooperating a lot, and the Embassy provided us with information on leaving Iran as early as possible… ‘Modi ji hai toh har cheez mumkin hai‘,” he told ANI.
Another said everyday movement became risky as protests intensified.
“We were there for a month. But we were only facing problems for the last one or two weeks… When we went outside, the protesters would come in front of the car. They would cause a little trouble… The internet was shut down, which is why we couldn’t tell our families anything, so we were a little worried… We couldn’t even contact the embassy,” he said.
A third returnee, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir, spoke of the scale of unrest.
“I am a resident of Jammu and Kashmir… The protests there were dangerous. The Indian government has made a very good effort and brought the students back…”
Families wait, advisories stay in force
At the arrivals gate, relatives waited with flowers and folded hands. One family member said their aunt had travelled on pilgrimage.
“My wife’s aunt went to Iran on a pilgrimage… Iran has always been a good friend of India, and we were very confident in the Modi government, which continuously supported… We thank the government of India for making this possible. We are very happy as our family member is returning to India.”
Another man, awaiting his sister-in-law, recalled days without contact.
“My sister-in-law is returning from Iran today. There was a war-like situation in Iran, and the internet was down. We were not able to contact her by any means. We were worried… We are very happy that she is returning to India safely… We thank the Government of India for making arrangements for their return to India during these difficult times,” he said.
“My mother and aunt are returning from Iran. We were worried because we were unable to contact her for three days… They are returning to India today,” another relative added.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has asked citizens, including businesspeople, pilgrims, students, and tourists, to leave using available transport, including commercial flights, citing an “evolving situation.” In New Delhi, the MEA has also advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice and reiterated an earlier advisory urging caution and avoidance of protests.
Protests began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Dec 28 after the rial fell to a record low. Demonstrations then spread nationwide, driven by multiple pressures such as unemployment, water shortages, power cuts, and high inflation. - The Statesman/ANN
