Iran Crisis: India Plans Evacuation, Flights Disrupted

The situation in Iran has turned very serious due to violent protests across the country and rising tensions with the United States. On Thursday, Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights for about five hours as a security measure. This move caused disruption in global air travel and affected many international flights.

Around 10,000 Indian citizens are currently living in Iran. These include students, workers, and professionals. Keeping their safety in mind, the Indian government has prepared a large evacuation plan. Sources say that Indian Air Force transport aircraft and special civilian flights have been kept on standby. The Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring the situation, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran is in regular contact with Indian nationals. According to government sources, the first special flight bringing back Indian citizens could reach India by Friday morning. After a high-level meeting between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs, the evacuation process has been started in mission mode. If Iran shuts its airspace completely, India is also exploring the option of evacuating citizens through neighboring countries using road routes or other alternative paths. At the same time, military activity has increased in the Middle East. Intelligence reports suggest that US Navy aircraft carriers, destroyer ships, and fighter jets are moving towards the region. US military bases in Kuwait and Qatar have been put on high alert. The United States has also announced new sanctions on 18 individuals and companies, accusing them of suppressing protests in Iran and being linked to a secret banking network.

Aviation safety monitoring website Safe Airspace has warned that the risk of missile launches or air defense activity over Iran has increased. This could lead to confusion in identifying civilian aircraft and raise the danger of a serious accident. The closure of Iranian airspace has had a direct impact on Indian airlines. Air India has canceled at least three flights from Delhi and Mumbai to New York and Newark. Using longer alternative routes will increase flight time and fuel costs, adding to airline expenses. Several IndiGo flights to Turkey and CIS countries have also been affected.