As Iran Shuts Down the Internet, Indian Families Wait in the Dark for News as Protests Continue |
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New Delhi: The messages began flooding in around noon on January 10, each one more frantic than the last.
“Please call my mother and father in Iran and inform them I’m safe in Dubai,” wrote one woman, including her parents’ phone numbers. “I would highly appreciate if you can confirm when it’s done.”
Another plea, “Can you pls call my brother in Tehran and see if all is safe”.
And another, “It’s been more than 48 hrs. We’re unable to contact them.”
The social media channel of India’s embassy in Iran, dormant for months after the previous crisis, suddenly sprang back to life after authorities cut internet and telecommunications services on January 8 as nationwide protests intensified.
Just days before the internet shutdown, on January 5, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. Those already in the country were advised to exercise caution, stay away from protest areas and register with the Indian embassy.
For thousands of Indian families with relatives in Iran – medical students, workers, pilgrims and other expatriates – the blackout disrupted contact with loved ones at a time of growing unrest. Protests that began on December 28, 2025 later prompted a wider security crackdown, leaving families without updates on the situation on the ground.
The anxiety is particularly acute for those who lived through the evacuation last June.
During the