Over 52,000 Indian nationals returned from the Gulf as flights resumed, amid rising Middle East tensions.

Over 52,000 Indian nationals returned to India from the Gulf region between March 1 and 7, 2026, as airspace reopenings enabled commercial and non-scheduled flights. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that 32,107 traveled on Indian carriers, with additional flights planned. A Special Control Room and 24/7 helplines at embassies assisted evacuees, while the government urged citizens to follow local guidelines and embassy advisories. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes targeted military sites in Iran, prompting Iranian missile responses, escalating regional tensions and disrupting global markets.