Indian nationals recount unrest in Iran as families reunite at Delhi airport

Indian nationals arriving at Terminal 3 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Saturday described streets lit by fires, sudden protests, and a complete internet blackout during unrest in Iran

Families of Indian pilgrims, workers and students waited inside the arrivals area, sitting on cold metal benches and watching the glass doors closely as each flight from Iran landed

Just after 3 am, Arsh Zehra, an MBBS student at Shiraz Medical University, exited the arrival gate and appeared visibly overwhelmed as media cameras and microphones surrounded her

Zehra later said that the absence of internet connectivity meant there were no warnings, rumours or videos circulating, leaving people unaware of the unfolding unrest until protests appeared suddenly around them

Zehra’s father stood beside her at the airport as she conveyed that her family decided to return after an advisory was issued by the Indian Embassy, following which they booked tickets independently

Shabbir Hussain, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir who landed earlier in the night, said he witnessed fires and protests in Iran, adding that the unrest was more visible at night while daytime remained relatively calm

Hussain further explained that protests were reported in cities including Tehran, Mashhad and Qom, and that the inability to contact family members due to communication shutdowns caused widespread anxiety back home

Iran is in the midst of one of its most serious bouts of unrest in years, triggered by protests that began in late December 2025 over economic hardship and later expanded into anti-government demonstrations