Over 52,000 Indians Return Home from Gulf Region Amid West Asia Conflict, Says MEA

New Delhi | 8 March 2026 The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that more than 52,000 Indian nationals were brought back to India from the Gulf region between March 1 and March 7 after the outbreak of conflict in West Asia. The large-scale return was made possible through a combination of scheduled and special flights as the government worked to assist citizens stranded in the region. According to the MEA, a total of around 32,107 passengers travelled on flights operated by Indian airlines, while the remaining travellers returned on services run by foreign carriers. Officials said the government closely monitored the situation and took steps to help Indians who were stuck during transit or visiting the region for short periods. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that recent partial reopening of airspace in parts of the Gulf and West Asia has helped airlines restart both scheduled and non-scheduled operations. This development has made it easier for stranded passengers to return home safely. He added that additional flights are expected to operate in the coming days so that those still waiting can travel back to India. The ministry has also advised Indian nationals in the affected countries to stay alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities and Indian diplomatic missions. Embassies and consulates have set up round-the-clock helplines to assist citizens, while a special control room in New Delhi is monitoring the situation and responding to queries from families and Over 52,000 Indians Return Home from Gulf Region Amid West Asia Conflict, Says MEA The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that more than 52,000 Indian nationals were brought back to India from the Gulf region between March 1 and March 7 after the outbreak of conflict in West Asia. The large-scale return was made possible through a combination of scheduled and special flights as the government worked to assist citizens stranded in the region. According to the MEA, a total of around 32,107 passengers travelled on flights operated by Indian airlines, while the remaining travellers returned on services run by foreign carriers. Officials said the government closely monitored the situation and took steps to help Indians who were stuck during transit or visiting the region for short periods. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that recent partial reopening of airspace in parts of the Gulf and West Asia has helped airlines restart both scheduled and non-scheduled operations. This development has made it easier for stranded passengers to return home safely. He added that additional flights are expected to operate in the coming days so that those still waiting can travel back to India. The ministry has also advised Indian nationals in the affected countries to stay alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities and Indian diplomatic missions. Embassies and consulates have set up round-the-clock helplines to assist citizens, while a special control room in New Delhi is monitoring the situation and responding to queries from families and travellers.