The main difficulty was that we could not understand their language, and they could not understand ours," he told PTI. Ketan Mehta said the Indian embassy stepped in, advising them that staying in Bandar Abbas was unsafe, suggesting evacuation through Armenia or Azerbaijan. The sailors were initially confined at Bandar Abbas port even after their release, before Indian consulate officials facilitated their movement to safer places, arranging accommodation, food and other essentials. With the situation worsening and no immediate evacuation possible, the sailors decided to leave Iran by road, a journey that would stretch nearly 2,000 kilometres. Detailing the escape, Ketan Mehta said the embassy assisted in securing exit visas and coordinated with Indian officials in Armenia.

Source: The Telegraph April 01, 2026 13:53 UTC