52,000 Indians returned from Gulf countries amid Iran war

Updated: 08-03-2026, 05.07 AM

What is the news?

More than 52,000 Indians have returned to the country from the West Asian region amid the ongoing war between Iran and Israel-US. Between March 1 and 7, 32,107 of these returned via Indian airlines and the rest via foreign commercial flights and non-scheduled flights. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that it is continuously monitoring the situation in West Asia and is making efforts to evacuate its citizens stranded there.

Ministry said- Special control room created to help Indians

The ministry said that amid the worsening situation in the Gulf countries, a special control room has been created to help the Indians stranded there, which is helping the affected people and their families. The ministry said that all Indian citizens present in the area have been advised to follow the advisories issued by the local administration and the Indian Embassy/Consulate. Indian missions in various countries have also started 24-hour helplines.

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Important points of the ministry’s statement

Rescue operations have gained momentum after the partial opening of the airfield in the last few days. Between March 1 and March 7, more than 52,000 Indians have returned to India safely. There are plans to run more special flights in the coming days. People living in countries where flights are currently closed have been advised to contact the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate.

Ministry made this request to Indians

The ministry urged all Indian nationals living in the area to follow the guidelines of local authorities and advisories issued by Indian missions. The ministry said the safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is a top priority for the government and it is working with governments across the region to facilitate all those who need assistance.

How many Indians live in Gulf countries?

About 90 lakh Indians live in Gulf countries. They are the sole breadwinners of many Indian families and are among the largest remittance senders in India. Estimates show that more than a third of India’s remittances come from the Middle East and Gulf countries. Till January this year, more than 10,000 Indians were living in Iran. At the same time, more than 41,000 people of Indian origin live in Israel.