India expands Operation Sindhu to evacuate Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals from Iran

In response to formal requests from the governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has announced it will extend its evacuation mission—Operation Sindhu—to include nationals of both countries stranded amid the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.

Launched on June 18, Operation Sindhu is the Indian government’s humanitarian response to evacuate its citizens amid escalating regional hostilities.

As of June 21, 517 Indian nationals have been successfully brought home aboard charter flights via safe transit points such as Armenia and Turkmenistan.

A pivotal moment in this operation occurred on June 20–21, when Iran temporarily lifted its airspace restrictions to facilitate three evacuation flights.

One flight carried around 290 Indian students from Mashhad to New Delhi, while another transported evacuees from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Evacuees have recounted harrowing scenes, including witnessing "missiles and drones falling from the sky" amid the surging conflict.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran, coordinating evacuation logistics, has also set up dedicated emergency helplines and a Telegram channel for affected citizens—including those of Nepal and Sri Lanka—providing essential real-time assistance.

Operation Sindhu reinforces India’s regional humanitarian leadership, an approach previously seen in missions like Operation Sukoon (2006 Lebanon), Operation Ganga (2022 Ukraine), and Operation Kaveri (2023 Sudan).