Iran-US war impact on India highlights: Airlines begin operating evacuation flights from West Asia to Indian cities

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) reviewed the evolving situation in West Asia during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night, directing all concerned departments to take necessary measures to assist Indian nationals stranded in the conflict-hit regions, including Iran, Israel, and the UAE.

An official statement said, "It (CCS) expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region."

"The CCS directed all concerned departments to take necessary and feasible measures to assist Indian nationals affected by the developments. It underscored the importance of an early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy," the statement added.

BJP MP Hemang Joshi said on Sunday that more than 45 tourists from Gujarat's Vadodara district are currently stranded in transit at Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport after flight cancellations continued amid escalating war-like situation in parts of the Middle East and the Gulf region.

"Given the war situation that has developed in the Middle East and the Gulf, and the fact that we know that most transit flights pass through Dubai and the entire region, there have been reports of many passengers stranded at the airport and within Dubai due to the cancellation of flights. There are also many passengers from the Vadodara district who are currently stranded there due to the cancellation of their flights," Joshi told news agency ANI.

"However, based on the information we have received so far, over 45 tourists from the Vadodara district are stranded in transit at Dubai Airport or Abu Dhabi Airport. However, they have not faced any problems yet. Depending on how the situation evolves, we will determine how we can provide further assistance," he added.

Several Indians are stuck in Dubai amid the ongoing conflict in Middle East and airstrikes from Iran and Israel.

Actors Subhashree Ganguly and Sonal Chauhan are among citizens stuck in UAE.

Ganguly was holidaying in Dubai with her minor son. Her husband, TMC legislator Raj Chakraborty, told the media that both are “in a hotel and safe.” “We are deeply concerned, although civilians are known to be safe in Dubai. Let's see when the flight operations resume,” he said.

The Indian embassy in Syria's Damascus cautioned its nationals in view of the "current regional situation".

"All Indian nationals in Syria are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, take due care, remain vigilant, follow safety guidelines and advisories as and when issued by the Embassy and the Syrian Authorities," the Embassy said.

Amid the ongoing tense situations in West Asia, the Consulate General of India in Turkey's Istanbul issued an advisory after flight cancellations and diversions at Istanbul Grand Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

The Consulate said that it is "closely monitoring the situation arising from the cancellation and diversion of flights" at the two airports.

The mission "remains in constant communication with the concerned airlines as well as Indian passengers who may be affected", it added.

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah spoke to Kannadigas stranded in Dubai through a video call on Sunday, assuring them of their safe return home.

In a post on X, the Karnataka CMO said that the chief minister took stock of the current situation of the state's citizens in the war-affected areas, including Dubai, and instructed the chief secretary to coordinate with the foreign ministry to bring the stranded citizens back home safely.

"I have spoken with Kannadigas stranded in Dubai due to the tense situation between Israel and Iran, and reassured them. After discussions with officials, I have gathered information on the current situation of Kannadigas stranded in war-affected areas including Dubai, and subsequently instructed the Chief Secretary to coordinate with Foreign Ministry officials to bring them back safely," said Karnataka CMO.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday night chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security at his official residence in Lok Kalyan Marg.

The meeting of the highest decision-making body on security and strategic matters of India was attended by members, including defence minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, home minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and foreign secretary Vikram Misri.

The developing situation in West Asia, the safety of Indian nationals living in the region, and also those who are stranded, and how to deal with the situation if it worsens, were likely the points discussed in the meeting, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, security was tightened outside the US Consulate in Telangana's Hyderabad on Sunday.

Additional forces were deployed outside the consulate in Nanakramguda as a precautionary measure.

An Indian national is among 58 people who suffered minor injuries in the Iranian military strikes on the United Arab Emirates, according to details shared by the UAE.

The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi said it is aware of the Indian national's injuries, adding that it is in touch with hospital authorities. "The Indian national is out of danger. We are rendering all possible assistance," the mission said on social media.

Shia organisations in Telangana, Majma-e-Ulama wa Khutaba and Matami Anjuman-o-Grohan, organised a protest rally in Hyderabad on Sunday to condemn the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Demonstrators raised slogans against the US and Israel during the rally.

Here are the recent developments in the Middle East tensions:

• Iran has vowed to avenge the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the recent joint strikes by Israel and the US.
• Tensions escalated in the Middle East region after Khamenei's death, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes against Israel and attacking US bases across the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.
• The conflict has now spilt over to Lebanon as militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, launched drone attacks against a military base in northern Israel.
• The UK has clarified that it did not have any involvement in the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
• India's PM Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, reiterating the need for an “early cessation of hostilities” amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation.
• US President Donald Trump said on Sunday during an interview with the Atlantic magazine that Iran's new leadership wants to talk to him and that he has agreed to the same.
• Oman's foreign minister, who had been mediating the US-Iran talks, urged a ceasefire during a call with his Iranian counterpart and said that Tehran has indicated willingness to de-escalate.

The Shia community in Bhopal held a mass condolence meeting and a protest to condemn Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death on Sunday, and held a candle march in Betul.

A condolence meeting was held at the Ale Mohammad Shia Jama Masjid in Bhopal's Koran area on Sunday. Imam Bankar Hussain addressed the gathering and said Khamenei's "martyrdom" and contribution to Islam would always be remembered.

After the meeting, over 100 members of the community took out a protest march, raising slogans against Israel and the US.

Meanwhile, the candle march in Betul began from Masjid-e-Mehdi and passed through Main Chowk and Lalli Chowk before ending at Jai Stambh Chowk.

Following protests and gatherings that took place across parts of Delhi to condemn and mourn Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, security was heightened across the national capital, police said on Sunday.

People from the Shia community expressed outrage and grief over Khamenei's death across parts of India.

Additional police personnel were deployed in sensitive areas, particularly around diplomatic missions and localities, especially those with significant Shia populations.

Even as 350 flights operated by Indian domestic carriers were cancelled on Sunday amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, airlines are attempting to preserve critical westbound connectivity by dynamically rerouting services rather than suspending long-haul operations altogether.

Air India, the only Indian carrier operating to the US, said all its flights to North America will operate as per schedule starting Monday.

“All other flights to North America and Europe will operate per schedule using alternative routings over available airspaces in the Middle East, which is expected to add to the flying times," the airline spokesperson said.