India has intensified assistance for its citizens in West Asia as rising regional tensions continue to disrupt travel and safety conditions. Several Indians have been repatriated from Lebanon, while hundreds have departed Qatar on commercial flights.
According to the Indian Embassy in Beirut, the first group of 177 Indian nationals returned to New Delhi on Wednesday aboard a charter flight arranged by their employer. India’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Noor Rahman Sheikh, saw them off at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.
In a post on X, the embassy said the first batch of 177 Indians travelling to Delhi on the chartered flight was seen off by Ambassador Noor Rahman Sheikh. The mission reiterated its commitment to providing the best possible assistance to Indian nationals in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Qatar said more than 500 Indians who had been stranded in the country travelled to India on Qatar Airways flights on March 11. The passengers left for destinations including New Delhi and Mumbai.
The embassy added that Qatar Airways is scheduled to operate two more flights to India on March 12—one each to New Delhi and Mumbai—to facilitate additional travel.
In another post on X, Indian authorities advised members of the Indian community to remain cautious and follow official guidelines. The embassy said its three 24/7 helplines remain active to assist citizens with queries or emergencies.
Officials also said urgent passport services are being prioritised in view of the situation. The consular section is functioning throughout the week and Tatkal passports are being issued within one to two days.
The advisory further urged residents to treat official alerts seriously and avoid approaching unidentified objects, debris, or fragments. People were asked to immediately report such items to emergency services.
Earlier, India expressed concern over attacks on commercial shipping linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, following missile strikes on a Thai-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of reports about the attack on the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree while it was passing through the strait.
According to the Maritime Traffic and Vessel Control Centre, the vessel, operated by Precious Shipping Plc, had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was heading to Kandla port in Gujarat when it came under attack around 10 a.m.
The ministry reiterated that attacks on commercial vessels and civilian maritime traffic should be avoided, noting the risks posed to crew members and global trade routes. (Agency)
