The government on Thursday scotched reports that emergency evacuation of Indians from the Gulf nations, especially Kuwait, had begun, saying the four aircraft which brought about 1200 people from Kuwait till this morning were "special flights sent on demand."

"There should be no confusion and no panic should be caused among the people that the government was implementing its emergency evacuation plan," Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said, adding that those brought back home had themselves moved applications to facilitate their return.

Two Boeing 747-200s and two A-300s, which were flown to Kuwait city last night, have brought home about 1200 people.

"These were no evacuation flights but extra services being operated as there was a sudden demand from Indians wanting to return home," he said, adding normal flights would continue to be operated to the Gulf till the airports and airspace at Damam, Kuwait and Bahrain were open to traffic.

Referring to the plans for bringing back about 50,000 Indians from Kuwait in the event of a war, the minister said both A-I and IA were ready to mount evacuation operations and complete it within a week. "But no decision has been taken as yet," he added.

Meanwhile a report from Mumbai, quoting the International Air Transport Association said commercial flights would be re-routed around the conflict zone and additional safety and security procedures taken to keep passengers safe.