Amidst the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has given important information regarding Indian citizens. Additional Secretary for Gulf Affairs, Asim Mahajan, said on Saturday that so far 5 Indians have lost their lives in this conflict, while one civilian is missing. Embassies are continuously working for the security of Indians living in Gulf countries and all missions are open for assistance round the clock.
Where and how did these incidents happen?
Oman attack: On March 13, 2026, a drone attack took place in Al Awahi Industrial Area in Sohar, Oman. This was the first attack on land in which 2 Indians were killed and 10 people were injured. Of the injured, 5 have been discharged from the hospital, while 5 are undergoing treatment.
Iraq incident: On March 11, 2026, an Indian crew member lost his life in an attack on an oil tanker in Basra, Iraq. The remaining 15 Indian members present on the ship were safely evacuated and shifted to the hotel.
Other events: Before the Oman attack, Indian sailors have also lost their lives in various attacks on sea routes. More than three dozen Indians have been injured so far across the region and one civilian is missing following an earlier maritime incident.
Steps taken by Indian Embassy and Government
About 1 crore Indians live in Gulf countries, whose security is the biggest priority of the government. Indian embassies in Oman, Iraq and UAE are working 24 hours. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that continuous coordination is being done to bring the bodies of the deceased to India.
Since the conflict started on 28 February 2026, till now about 1.30 lakh to 1.50 lakh Indians have returned safely to their country. Special arrangements are being made for the return of people from countries like Bahrain and Kuwait where direct flights are less. Along with this, work is also going on to rescue more than 20 Indian ships stuck in the sea.