New Delhi: More than 52,000 Indian nationals have been brought back home from Gulf countries between March 1 and March 7 following the outbreak of war in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
According to the MEA, a total of 52,000-plus passengers have returned to India during the period, including 32,107 travellers on Indian carriers, while the remaining were flown back by foreign airlines.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Government of India has been closely monitoring the situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, with special focus on the safety and welfare of Indian nationals stranded in transit or on short-term visits.
He said the partial reopening of airspace in parts of the region in recent days has enabled both scheduled and non-scheduled flights to resume operations, helping stranded passengers return to India.
Jaiswal added that additional flights are planned in the coming days to facilitate the evacuation of Indians still waiting to travel back home.
The MEA also advised Indian nationals currently in the region to follow instructions issued by local authorities and adhere to advisories released by Indian embassies and consulates in their respective countries.
He said Indian missions in the affected countries have already issued detailed advisories and established 24-hour helplines to assist citizens facing difficulties due to the ongoing conflict.
The ministry has also set up a Special Control Room in New Delhi to track developments and respond to queries from affected individuals and their families.
Jaiswal further urged Indian nationals in locations where commercial flight services remain suspended to contact the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate for information and assistance regarding the closest available evacuation flights. (Agencies)
