Worried families call to check on loved ones back home after operation Sindoor

Hetal Rajput (L) with her daughter Utkarshini

As tensions rise in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Indian families are facing a new kind of pressure, not from the conflict itself, but from growing concern among the loved ones living abroad about the uncertainty of the emerging war-like situation.

Even as the government reiterates that the operation was a limited and necessary action, its emotional reverberations are being felt far beyond India's borders. For many, the questions being asked aren't about politics or military strategy; they are simple, heartfelt, and deeply human.

"I got a call from my aunt in London at 2 am," says Vaishali Mehta, a college student in Mumbai. "She had seen breaking news about troop movements and feared something terrible had happened. Her first words were, ‘Is everything okay over there?' I had to calm her down and assure her we were all fine."

Ritesh Sonawala, who lives and works in the UK, texted his mother Pushpa, a resident of Malad East, the moment he saw the news, advising her to prepare for uncertainty. "My son was worried. I told him it was okay, but he explained, ‘What if Pakistan retaliates? It could escalate into a war. Don't wait until the last minute.' He urged me to stock up on essentials, just in case," Pushpa said.

This sentiment is echoed across households from Delhi to Pune, from Kashmir to Kerala. For families with loved ones in the US, Canada, the UK, and the Gulf, anxious phone and video calls have become part of the daily routine. Headlines, viral clips, and even forwarded messages on family WhatsApp groups are fueling waves of concern.

Hetal Rajput from Wadala received a worried call from her 27-year-old daughter, Utkarshini, who is currently in Wales. "I saw the news about the operation late at night here. There's a lot of concern among Indian-origin students in the UK. Things weren't entirely clear initially, so I called my mom the next morning," Utkarshini told mid-day. "Yes, I was worried and concerned, but I also understood that things weren't as bad as they seemed."

Nita Kapadia, a South Mumbai resident, has several family members living abroad, including her daughter in Muscat, cousins in Oman, and a brother in Africa. "The calls of concern didn't start with Operation Sindoor; they began after the Pahalgam attack on tourists. Over the past week, I have spoken with relatives in Canada, the UK, and the Gulf. Some of them genuinely believed India and Pakistan were already at war. They were advising us to stock up on essentials, keep cash at home, and be prepared. We had to explain the real situation here," Kapadia said.