Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 26: Authorities on Thursday said flight operations between India and the conflict-affected West Asia region are steadily improving, with additional services being arranged to bring back stranded passengers.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, around 80 flights were expected to arrive from airports in the United Arab Emirates, including several non-scheduled services introduced to manage the surge in demand. Regular flights are also continuing from Saudi Arabia and Oman, while limited operations have resumed in Qatar’s partially open airspace.
Special evacuation flights operated by Jazeera Airways and Gulf Air are routing passengers via Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Indian citizens in Iran are being assisted through transit routes in Armenia and Azerbaijan, while those in Israel are returning via Jordan.
With airspace in Kuwait and Bahrain currently closed, evacuation efforts from these countries are also being routed through Saudi Arabia. Since February 28, approximately 4.5 lakh passengers have returned to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely monitoring developments in the region, prioritising the safety and welfare of Indian nationals. A 24x7 control room remains active, with Indian missions working round the clock to provide advisories, consular services, and logistical support to students, seafarers, and other stranded citizens
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is overseeing maritime operations to ensure continuity of trade and the safety of Indian seafarers. The Directorate General of Shipping has facilitated the return of over 674 seafarers so far, including 39 in the last 24 hours.
Currently, 20 Indian-flagged vessels with around 540 Indian crew members remain in the western Persian Gulf and are being closely monitored in coordination with ship operators and Indian missions. Authorities confirmed that no incidents involving Indian vessels were reported in the past 24 hours.
Despite the regional tensions, port operations across Indian states—including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry—continue to function smoothly, ensuring uninterrupted maritime activity.