Lok Sabha Question No. 5667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Emergency Evacuation of Indians
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5667

ANSWERED ON- 27/03/2026

EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF INDIANS

†5667. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the details of the operations carried out for the evacuation of Indian   citizens   during   wars/emergencies   abroad   in   the   last   ten years;

- (b)   the   number   of   Indian   students,   labourers   and   other   citizens brought back to India from such countries including the RussiaUkraine and USA-Israel-Iran conflicts;

(c) the operation-wise details of the fees charged per passenger by the Government or relevant agencies;

(d)   whether   it   has   come   to   the   notice   of   the   Government   that complaints have been received regarding high fees being charged in some cases during emergency evacuations or economically weaker citizens not receiving adequate priority and if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to ensure   free   or   subsidized   evacuation   of   Indian   students   and labourers stranded abroad in such emergencies in future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c) Government accords utmost priority to the safety and wellbeing of the Indian nationals abroad. Government has executed various operations in last ten years to evacuate Indian nationals during wars/conflicts/emergencies. The context and basis of each operation/evacuations is unique. Details of evacuations/operations

along with number of evacuated Indian nationals are attached at Annexure-I. During the prevailing USA-Israel-Iran conflict, Government   has   facilitated   return   of   over   3.75   lakh   Indian passengers by commercial flights including  non-scheduled  flight operations from West Asia and Gulf region till 21 March 2026.

(d)   &   (e)   The   Government   has   received   queries   through   various outreach platforms made available to Indian nationals during the prevalent situation. Queries received at the Special Control Room in Ministry of External Affairs range from assistance to make contact with   family/friends/relatives   to   enquiries   about   available   travel options, cross-border travel facilitation, situation update, to verify misinformation etc. The queries are being flagged to the concerned Indian Embassies and Consulates in the region for real-time action. Government has been facilitating Indian passengers to embark on available   commercial   flights   by   facilitating   local   transportation, cross-border movements, obtaining transit visas etc. Government addresses   each   emergency   as   per   the   on-ground   situation   and circumstances and a response is executed to ensure the safety and well being of Indians abroad.

## Annexure-I

## DETAILS OF EVACUATIONS/OPERATIONS EXECUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN PREVIOUS 10 YEARS

| Year                                                                   | Country & Name of the Operation                                                                             | Total number of Indian nationals evacuated   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Nepal Operation Maitri                                                 | 3975                                                                                                        | 2015                                         |
| Yemen Operation Rahat                                                  | 6688 (including 1947 foreign nationals)                                                                     | 2015                                         |
| South Sudan Operation Sankat Mochan                                    | 156 ( including few foreign nationals )                                                                     | 2016                                         |
| Yemen Operation Nistar ( Indian naval operation)                       | 38                                                                                                          | 2018                                         |
| Maldives, Iran and Sri Lanka Operation Samudra Setu (Indian Naval Op.) | 3992                                                                                                        | 2020                                         |
| Vande Bharat Mission (Global)                                          | 3.20 crore (1.594 crore disembarked and 1.608 crore embarked)                                               | 2020- 2022                                   |
| Afghanistan Operation Devi Shakti                                      | 669 ( including 15 other foreign nationals and 206 Afghans, which includes members of the Afghan Hindu/Sikh | 2021                                         |
| 2022 Ukraine                                                           | 18,282                                                                                                      |                                              |
| 2023 Sudan                                                             | 4,097                                                                                                       |                                              |

|            | Operation Kaveri                                                        | ( including 136 foreign nationals)                                                                      |
|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2023       | Israel Operation Ajay 1,343 (including and 20 Haiti                     | 14 OCI card holders foreign nationals)                                                                  |
| 2024       | Operation Indravati 17                                                  |                                                                                                         |
| 2024       | Kuwait (Special Humanitarian Airlift of deceased Indian nationals) 45 ( | mortal remains)                                                                                         |
| 2025       | Iran Operation Sindhu                                                   | 3597                                                                                                    |
| 2025       | Israel Operation Sindhu                                                 | 818                                                                                                     |
| 2024- 25   | Syria                                                                   | 86                                                                                                      |
| 2022- 2025 | Iraq                                                                    | 135                                                                                                     |
| 2025       | Sri Lanka (Operation Sagar Bandhu -HADR operation)                      | 424 ( evacuated by special IAF flights on gratis basis ) and 2076 ( facilitated by commercial flights ) |

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