Bengaluru

The Centre is fully prepared to facilitate the return of Indians stranded in West Asia and is maintaining close coordination with Indian missions abroad to ensure their safety, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday.

In a statement, Joshi said senior officials of the relevant Indian embassies have been consulted to put in place measures for the safe evacuation of those affected by the ongoing conflict in the region.

“Whenever Kannadigas or other Indians face distress anywhere in the world, the Central Government has stepped in to bring them home safely. We did so during the Ukraine crisis, and we will continue to do so wherever Indians are in trouble,” he said, reiterating that the safety of Indian citizens remains the government’s top priority.

The minister said reports have been received about Kannadigas facing difficulties due to the intensifying Iran–Israel conflict, following which urgent discussions were held with senior ministers and officials to assess the situation and plan appropriate action.

Seeking to reassure families of those stranded, Joshi urged them not to panic, assuring that the government is committed to ensuring the safe return of all Indians.

He pointed out that air travel in conflict-hit zones currently involves risks and that expert inputs are being considered before taking further operational decisions.

Joshi also said steps are being taken to assist Indians stranded in Dubai, where flight operations have been disrupted due to the regional situation.

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“People should not be anxious. All necessary and serious efforts are underway to bring our citizens back safely,” he added.