Priyanka Tiwari
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Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Indian government has successfully evacuated over 4,400 of its citizens from the two nations using 19 special flights. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the large-scale operation, highlighting its commitment to ensuring the safety of Indians abroad.
The evacuation efforts, which include the well-known "Operation Ajay" for citizens in Israel, were intensified following a travel advisory issued on April 12. The advisory strongly urged Indians to avoid traveling to either Iran or Israel until further notice and requested those already in the region to exercise extreme caution. The MEA confirmed that this travel warning remains in effect as the situation is still being closely monitored.
A key part of the government's focus has been on the 17 Indian crew members aboard the container ship 'MSC Aries,' which was seized by Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. In a positive development, one of the crew members, female cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, was released and has safely returned to India, thanks to coordinated diplomatic efforts.
Indian officials are actively working to secure the release of the remaining 16 crew members. According to the MEA, these sailors are in good health and have been able to contact their families in India. Furthermore, Indian mission officials in Iran were granted consular access, allowing them to meet with the crew members directly to ensure their well-being.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian embassies in both Tel Aviv and Tehran are in constant communication with the Indian communities in their respective countries. The government continues to watch the situation closely, promising all necessary support and assistance to its citizens caught in the conflict zone.
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