New Delhi, Jun 13: As Israel conducted strikes at Iranís nuclear, missile, and military complex, mounting tension in West Asia, India on Friday said it is “deeply concerned” over the recent developments between the countries and is “closely monitoring” the evolving situation, even as New Delhi urged both nations to avoid any escalatory steps.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also said that all Indian nationals in the region are advised to exercise caution, stay safe and follow local security advisories.

The MEA issued the statement as tensions between Iran and Israel escalated following the strikes.

Israel on Friday launched Operation Rising Lion to strike at Iran’s nuclear, missile and military complex, which left key military commanders and nuclear scientists dead.

The Israeli Army also released a video from one of the strikes which has been reported in the media. According to international reports, Israel has carried out strikes at various places in Iran.

“We are deeply concerned at the recent developments between Iran and Israel. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation, including reports related to attacks on nuclear sites,” the MEA said in the statement.

As the situation in West Asia escalated, India urged “both sides to avoid any escalatory steps”.

The MEA said, “existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues”.

India asserted that it enjoys “close and friendly relations” with both countries and “stands ready to extend all possible support”.

“Our Missions in both countries are in contact with the Indian community. All Indian nationals in the region are advised to exercise caution, stay safe and follow local security advisories,” the statement said.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that the strikes “improve the freedom of action in the air” for the Israeli Air Force.

Earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.

Reacting to Israel’s strikes, the Iranian armed forces general staff in a statement said, there were “no limits” in their response.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel will face “severe punishment” for the attacks.

The Indian embassies in Israel and Iran issued advisories on its X handles given the situation.

“Advisory: Given the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols as advised by the Israeli authorities and home front command ( Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters,” the Indian Embassy in Israel posted on the social media platform.

“ADVISORY In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy’s Social Media accounts and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities,” the Indian Embassy in Iran posted on X.

Srinagar, June 13: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday urged the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safety of Kashmiri students in Iran, which was attacked by Israel.

Israel carried out strikes early Friday that took out top military officers and hit nuclear and missile sites in Iran, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister also called on Israel and Iran to exercise restraint and avoid any further escalation.

“Every step must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of Kashmiri students studying in Iran. Their families are deeply worried, and we stand with them in this difficult time,” he said.

Abdullah emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving tensions between the two nations.

“Both sides must refrain from taking any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards de-escalation and address the underlying issues,” the NC president said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the external affairs ministry said India is “deeply concerned” over the recent developments between Iran and Israel and is “closely monitoring” the evolving situation.

New Delhi, June 13: Blood transfusion is the cornerstone of effective healthcare and emergency responses, said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia on Friday, ahead of the World Blood Donor Day.

World Blood Donor Day is marked annually on June 14. This year the theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”

The day honours the silent heroes among us — voluntary, unpaid blood donors — whose simple yet powerful act of donating their blood saves countless lives each day.

Wazed noted that to build resilient national health systems it is essential to have the critical and continuous need for safe blood and blood products.

Yet many people, especially in low- and middle-income countries, do not have access to safe and timely transfusion services.

“Blood transfusion is a cornerstone of effective healthcare and emergency response. From mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, to children suffering from severe anaemia to patients undergoing surgery or living with chronic blood disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia, and sickle-cell disease — blood saves lives,” said the Regional Director.

“In crisis situations, such as natural disasters or conflict, timely access to safe blood is often the difference between life and death,” she added.

Wazed said that strong national systems and a stable base of voluntary, unpaid donors who are willing to give blood regularly are key to achieving universal access to safe blood.

Meanwhile, the Regional Director noted that all countries in the WHO South-East Asia have developed national blood policies aligned with the global health body’s recommendations on blood safety.

These policies advocate for nationally coordinated blood transfusion services based on 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated blood donations (VNRD), and adherence to national or internationally recognised blood standards.

“Currently, nearly 50 per cent of our Member States have achieved close to 100 per cent VNRD coverage, contributing significantly to the blood supply required for national health systems. Across our region, approximately 82 per cent of all donated blood is sourced from voluntary, unpaid donors, reflecting strong community engagement and donor motivation,” Wazed said.

Further, Wazed stated that all blood collected in the SE region is screened for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) and tested for the necessary serological parameters.

She urged all governments, health authorities to renew support for national blood transfusion programmes.

“On World Blood Donor Day 2025, let us remember that each blood donation is not just a medical act — it is an act of compassion, commitment, and hope. It is a lifeline to someone, somewhere, who may never meet their donor, but whose life was touched forever,” Wazed said.

Ahmedabad, June 13:  Post-mortem examinations are underway at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after the Air India plane with 242 onboard crashed minutes after takeoff from here, officials said on Friday. According to officials, a team of 70 to 80 doctors, including medical professionals from Primary and Community Health Centres across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Anand, and Nadiad and Civil Hospital staff, have been working tirelessly since Thursday evening.

After identification, the bodies are being handed over to grieving families with full dignity and sensitivity. As of Friday morning, five victims have been identified and their remains returned to their families. Among them are two individuals from Rajasthan, two from Bhavnagar, and one from Madhya Pradesh. The process continues as more relatives arrive to assist in identifying their loved ones among the deceased.

The hospital administration has urged the relatives and close family members of the deceased to submit DNA samples to facilitate timely identification. Officials say the DNA testing is being used to identify remains, as many bodies were badly burned in the tragedy.

Civil Hospital has released emergency helpline numbers for those seeking information about patients or the deceased: 6357373831, 6357373841 Meanwhile, Anjali Rupani, wife of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, arrived in Ahmedabad from London on Friday morning, a day after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 that claimed her husband’s life. Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi received her at the airport and offered his condolences. The same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI-171) that crashed had previously experienced major technical problems just a month earlier, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled Ahmedabad-to-London flight. At the time, passengers voiced serious concerns over the airline’s reliance on ageing aircraft, pointing to repeated technical failures that disrupted their travel. On that particular day, passengers of flight AI-171 endured a frustrating ordeal. The flight, which was slated to depart from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.10 p.m., was cancelled after travellers were left waiting inside the aircraft for more than two hours. Many had arrived early, expecting a smooth international departure. Boarding began only at 2.00 p.m., and those on board faced stifling conditions as the air conditioning shut off intermittently. Despite repeated questions, no clear information was provided by the airline crew regarding the delay or a revised departure time. Eventually, passengers were informed that the flight was being called off due to a technical issue. While Air India did announce full refunds, passengers expressed frustration.