Nearly 1,800 Indian nationals have left Iran via Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict, while two Indian-flagged carriers laden with 62,000 metric tonnes of LPG are expected to reach Indian ports this week after safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz, officials said on Monday.
Indian nationals wishing to leave Iran have had to make their way to Armenia and Azerbaijan via land border crossings as Iranian airspace has been closed since the start of hostilities on February 28 due to military strikes on Iran by Israel and the US.
A total of 1,777 Indian nationals, including 895 students and 345 fishermen, have crossed over from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing.
The fishermen, who were employed by various companies in Iran, flew to India from Armenia on April 4 and arrived in Chennai, Jaiswal said.
The Indian embassy in Tehran also facilitated the movement of one Bangladeshi and one Sri Lankan national.
Two Indian-flagged carriers – Green Sanvi, with 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG and 25 Indian sailors, and Green Asha, with 15,500 metric tonnes of LPG and 26 sailors, transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past two days and were on their way to the country’s ports.
Green Sanvi is expected to arrive on April 7, and Green Asha on April 9.
Sixteen Indian-flagged vessels with 433 Indian seafarers are still located to the west of the Strait of Hormuz.
