Operation Sindhu: India to evacuate Nepalese and Sri Lankan citizens from Iran; issues emergency helplines

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday announced it will extend its evacuation efforts in Iran to include citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka, following formal requests from the two neighbouring nations.

The move comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered by Israel’s Operation Rising Lion aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, to which Tehran has responded with retaliatory actions.

“In response to the requests from the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka,” the Indian Embassy in Tehran stated in a post on X.

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On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka. https://t.co/eHIOhmNN7M

— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) June 21, 2025

The embassy also issued emergency contact numbers and advised citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka to urgently reach out through Telegram or via the designated emergency lines: +989010144557, +989128109115, and +989128109109.

The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy, either on the Telegram channel or over the emergency contact numbers.
+989010144557; +989128109115; +989128109109

— India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) June 21, 2025

India has launched its evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu to bring home Indian nationals stranded in high-risk zones due to the deteriorating security situation in Iran.

On Saturday morning, a special flight carrying Indian citizens landed in Delhi from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. This followed another successful evacuation late Friday night, when 290 Indian students -- primarily from Jammu and Kashmir -- returned safely from Mashhad, Iran, after Tehran reopened its airspace.