3 Lakh Indians Evacuated from Gulf: The Biggest Rescue Since 1990 Kuwait
3 Lakh Indians Evacuated from Gulf: The Biggest Rescue Since 1990 Kuwait
India has launched its most ambitious civilian evacuation operation in over three decades. More than 3 lakh Indian nationals have been airlifted, transported by sea, and moved overland from Gulf nations since the Iran war began on February 28, 2026. The operation, widely referred to as Operation Vatan, surpasses the scale of the 1990 Kuwait airlift that brought home 1.7 lakh Indians during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
The evacuation became necessary after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed by Iranian naval forces, disrupting commercial shipping, air routes, and the daily lives of millions of expatriates across the region.
The Timeline: How It Unfolded
When the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, the immediate impact was felt across the Persian Gulf. Within 48 hours, Iran retaliated by deploying naval mines and anti-ship missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which approximately 21 million barrels of oil pass daily.
For the nearly 1 crore Indians living and working across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Commercial flights were disrupted. Shipping lanes became dangerous. Employers in sectors like construction, hospitality, and retail began sending workers home or shutting operations altogether.
By March 2, the Indian government activated its evacuation protocols. The Ministry of External Affairs established a 24/7 control room, and Indian embassies across the Gulf began registering citizens for evacuation.
The Scale of Operation Vatan
The numbers are staggering. India deployed Air India, IndiGo, and chartered aircraft to run continuous evacuation flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha, Kuwait City, Bahrain, and Riyadh. The Indian Navy dispatched INS Vikrant, INS Vikramaditya, and several frigates and destroyers to the Arabian Sea to provide maritime evacuation corridors.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, as of mid-March 2026, more than 3 lakh Indians have been brought home. The breakdown includes approximately 1.2 lakh from the UAE, 80,000 from Saudi Arabia, 45,000 from Oman, 30,000 from Qatar, 15,000 from Kuwait, and 10,000 from Bahrain.
This is not just an airlift. Indian Navy ships have been conducting sea evacuations from Oman and the UAE, picking up workers from ports where commercial vessels refuse to dock due to the threat of Iranian mines.
Comparing with 1990 Kuwait Airlift
The 1990 Kuwait airlift remains one of the largest civilian evacuations in history. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, an estimated 1.7 lakh Indians were stranded. Air India conducted 488 flights over 59 days to bring them home, earning a Guinness World Record.
Operation Vatan has already surpassed that number in fewer days, though the logistics are different. In 1990, the evacuation was primarily from a single country (Kuwait) to India. In 2026, the evacuation spans multiple countries, with varying security situations, closed airspaces, and naval threats in the Persian Gulf.
The Indian Air Force has also been involved this time, deploying C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft for emergency evacuations from higher-risk areas. This military dimension makes Operation Vatan qualitatively different from the 1990 operation.
Who Is Being Evacuated?
The Indian diaspora in the Gulf is diverse. It includes highly paid professionals in banking, technology, and healthcare, but the vast majority are blue-collar workers in construction, domestic service, retail, and hospitality. These workers are the most vulnerable during a crisis.
Many construction workers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia live in labor camps far from airports. Their employers, often facing their own financial crises due to the oil market disruption, have in some cases abandoned their workers. Reports from Indian embassy officials describe scenes of hundreds of workers waiting at collection points with nothing but a small bag of belongings.
The evacuation has also prioritized women, children, and the elderly. Pregnant women and those with medical conditions have been placed on priority lists. Several Indian states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, which have the largest Gulf diaspora populations, have set up their own reception centers at airports.
The Kerala Connection
Kerala, which has an estimated 25 lakh citizens working in the Gulf, has been the most affected state. The Kerala government set up Norka Roots, its diaspora welfare agency, as the primary coordination body. Chief Minister's office has been running daily briefings on the evacuation status.
Cochin International Airport has been operating round-the-clock to handle incoming evacuation flights. Temporary shelters have been established near the airport for returnees who need immediate accommodation. The state government has also announced a Rs 5,000 immediate relief package for each evacuee.
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have launched similar programs. The Telangana government has set up a dedicated helpline for families of Gulf workers.
Challenges and Criticism
Despite the scale of the operation, the evacuation has not been without problems. Opposition parties have criticized the government for not acting fast enough. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that the government had intelligence about the impending conflict but failed to pre-position evacuation assets.
Some Indian workers have reported being stranded for days without food or water at collection points. Social media has been flooded with desperate videos from workers in Oman and Bahrain pleading for help. The Indian embassy in Muscat acknowledged that demand has far exceeded the initial evacuation capacity.
There have also been reports of price gouging by private airlines. Some carriers allegedly charged Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 for one-way tickets from Dubai to Indian cities, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue fare caps on evacuation routes.
The Economic Impact on Evacuees
For many returning workers, evacuation means the end of their livelihood. Gulf remittances are a lifeline for millions of Indian families. India received over $110 billion in remittances in 2025, with a significant portion coming from the Gulf. The sudden return of lakhs of workers means lost income, unpaid wages, and an uncertain future.
Many workers left behind belongings, savings in local bank accounts, and end-of-service benefits. Some had taken loans to pay recruitment agents for their Gulf jobs. They return to India with debt and no immediate employment prospects.
The central government has announced a rehabilitation package, but details remain scarce. States like Kerala, which depend heavily on Gulf remittances for their economy, face a potential economic crisis of their own.
What Happens Next?
The evacuation is ongoing. With nearly 1 crore Indians in the Gulf and only 3 lakh evacuated so far, the operation may need to continue for months if the conflict does not de-escalate. The Indian government has stated that evacuation is voluntary and that Indians who wish to stay in the Gulf are free to do so, provided their host country situations remain safe.
The bigger question is whether this crisis will fundamentally change India's relationship with the Gulf. For decades, Indian workers have been the backbone of Gulf economies. The sudden vulnerability exposed by this war may force both India and Gulf nations to rethink the terms of this labor migration.
For now, the focus remains on getting people home safely. Every flight that lands at an Indian airport with returning workers is a reminder of both India's global reach and the fragility of the lives that sustain it.
The Human Stories Behind the Numbers
Behind every statistic is a human story. A construction worker from Bihar who spent 15 years building Dubai's skyline, now returning with nothing. A nurse from Kerala who worked in an Omani hospital, evacuated on an Indian Navy ship. A software engineer from Hyderabad who left a comfortable life in Abu Dhabi because the schools closed and there was no certainty about tomorrow.
These are the stories of Operation Vatan. They deserve to be told, not just as numbers in a government briefing, but as the lived experiences of millions of Indians whose lives have been upended by a war they did not choose.
As the operation continues, India faces a dual challenge: bringing its people home safely while preparing for the economic and social impact of their return. The 1990 Kuwait crisis reshaped India's diaspora policy. The 2026 Gulf crisis will likely do the same, but on a much larger scale.
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