India Activates MEA Control Room and Seafarer Crisis Team as Iran War Disrupts Gulf Region
India on Wednesday activated additional emergency coordination mechanisms as the West Asia war intensified, with the Ministry of External Affairs establishing a dedicated control room in New Delhi, maritime authorities creating a rapid-response support team for seafarers, and security restrictions tightening in parts of Kashmir following protests linked to the conflict.
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| File/Representational Photo of senior MEA officials and Indian Ambassadors; Via: EAM Jaishankar |
The facility will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., providing direct contact lines for citizens seeking information, assistance or evacuation guidance as hostilities expand across multiple countries.
The government also released emergency contact numbers for Indian embassies and missions across the region, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.
The move comes as New Delhi continues to monitor the safety of nearly one crore Indians living and working across the Gulf, many of whom are employed in sectors directly affected by disruptions to aviation, shipping and energy infrastructure.
A Special Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. Details are as below ⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 4, 2026
🔗 https://t.co/nK3d6SY9Pa pic.twitter.com/v2EhUI5B1x
Parallel steps have been taken to address risks facing Indian maritime workers. The Directorate General of Shipping, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, announced the creation of a 24-hour Quick Response Team to support Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
The unit will coordinate with shipping companies, recruitment agencies, Indian diplomatic missions and seafarers’ families to facilitate communication, welfare support and evacuation arrangements if required. Officials said the DGCOMM centre will serve as the primary contact point for assistance.
In view of the evolving security situation in the Persian Gulf region, the Directorate General of Shipping has constituted a dedicated 24×7 Quick Response Team to ensure timely assistance, coordination, and welfare support for Indian seafarers. The team will facilitate effective… pic.twitter.com/bybRFnYmF2
— Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india) March 4, 2026
The measures follow growing concerns that attacks on vessels, energy terminals and shipping corridors could place thousands of Indian seafarers at risk. The Persian Gulf and adjacent maritime routes remain among the most heavily trafficked corridors for global energy trade, and a large proportion of crews aboard commercial vessels operating there include Indian nationals.
The conflict’s ripple effects are also visible inside India. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have imposed restrictions in several areas following protests triggered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the opening phase of the war.
Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law and order situation. Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquility. pic.twitter.com/ar2UVFsM6T
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) March 3, 2026
Officials said educational institutions have been closed until Saturday as a precaution, while mobile internet speeds in parts of the region remain restricted.
Education authorities have also taken precautionary steps affecting Indian students abroad. The Central Board of Secondary Education earlier confirmed that board examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 students in the Middle East remain postponed due to safety concerns.
Important Update on Class X/XII Exams – Middle East Regions
— CBSE HQ (@cbseindia29) March 3, 2026
CBSE has issued Circular-2 today regarding the Class X & XII Board Exams in the Middle East regions.
Details are in attached Circular pic.twitter.com/JAHPj3SBjW
Exams scheduled in multiple countries were first deferred on March 1 and the suspension has now been extended as security conditions remain uncertain.
These developments show how the expanding war between the United States, Israel and Iran is creating direct operational, security and humanitarian challenges for India.
With millions of citizens across the Gulf, thousands of seafarers navigating energy shipping lanes, and large student communities in regional schools, the government’s response is increasingly focused on crisis coordination, communication channels and contingency planning.