Eleven Nepali nationals arrived in Mashhad, Iran, on Sunday night after travelling nearly 900 kilometres overland from Tehran. The Indian Embassy in Tehran coordinated the evacuation as the war between Israel and Iran rages on.

“We reached Mashhad safely last night. The journey was not difficult. We are now staying in a hotel,” said Hari Thapa of Udayapur, one of the evacuees. “India has assured us that we are a priority for repatriation. We are now waiting for a flight.”

The group includes Thapa, his wife Gayatri Karki Thapa, and their son Utsav Thapa, along with Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, Buddhi Bhusal, Sagar Paudel, Ganesh Pokharel, Suman Gaire, Bishnu Prasad Banjade, Yagya Marasini, and Raju Khanal. Officials said Banjade does not have a passport and may be unable to board the flight immediately.

The Nepali Embassy in Doha, which is coordinating the evacuation, said the group had worked in Tehran’s diplomatic missions and Iranian restaurants for eight to 24 years. The embassy said five other Nepalis remain in jail in Tehran, and efforts are ongoing to secure their release.

Following Nepal’s appeal, the Indian Embassy in Tehran came forward to rescue Nepali nationals as well. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu and the Indian mission instructed the stranded Nepalis to contact Indian officials in Tehran. The Indian mission also issued a notice inviting Nepalis and Sri Lankan nationals in Iran to establish contact.