Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the Indian government has activated a 24x7 control room. The Ministry of External Affairs has so far safely evacuated 2,549 Indians from Iran. Constant monitoring is underway to ensure the safety of Indians and sailors stranded in Gulf countries…

International Desk: Amid the ongoing tensions and war-like situation in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has activated a special 24x7 control room for the safety of Indian citizens. The government said that so far 2,549 Indian citizens have been safely evacuated from Iran. This evacuation was done mainly through land border routes. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, Aseem R. Mahajan, said that the ministry is continuously monitoring the situation and is working in coordination with the state governments to ensure that the families of the people get accurate information.

He said that at present the airspace of UAE is open. Flights are continuing from Saudi Arabia and Oman. Qatar’s airspace is partially open. Flight services are normal in Kuwait and Bahrain. Iran’s airspace is open to a limited extent and Indians have been advised not to travel there. Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian government is continuously monitoring the regional situation and new instructions will be issued if required. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that no major incident has happened with any Indian ship or sailor in the last three days.

So far, more than 3,096 Indian sailors have been safely repatriated. According to the government, the helpline and control room have received thousands of calls and emails. Indian embassies and consulates are continuously providing assistance. This entire exercise is taking place at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States and heightened global concern over the Strait of Hormuz.