Two Indian nationals have died and another remains missing after merchant vessels came under attack in conflict-affected waters in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News
The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday confirmed that two Indian nationals have lost their lives and another remains missing amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
Speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the casualties occurred when Indian nationals were on board merchant vessels that came under attack in conflict-affected waters. The ministry also said several Indians have been injured in the wider Gulf region amid the hostilities.
“As you know, we have a large diaspora in GCC countries, numbering around 10 million. The welfare of our diaspora is of utmost priority and importance to us,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The government said it was closely monitoring the safety of Indian nationals across the region, where millions of Indians live and work, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
“As for the casualties, we have lost two Indian nationals, and one remains missing. We express our condolences to their families. The incidents of death and the missing person occurred when they were on merchant vessels that came under attack,” Jaiswal said.
Officials also confirmed that some Indian nationals have been injured in separate incidents linked to the wider conflict. “A few Indians have also been injured in the GCC region. One person was injured in Israel, and there are reports of another individual being injured in Dubai. The MEA is in regular touch with them,” he added.
According to the ministry, Indian diplomatic missions across the region are maintaining close contact with members of the Indian community and are coordinating assistance where required.
Jaiswal said all embassies and consulates were working with local authorities and community organisations to monitor the situation and respond to requests for support.
To assist Indian nationals amid the volatile conditions, the ministry has also set up a dedicated control room in New Delhi to handle emergency calls and coordinate responses with missions in the affected countries.
“We remain committed to the welfare of our citizens and nationals who reside in the GCC and West Asian countries. All our missions in the region are in regular touch with our community members,” he said.
“I would also like to update you that the MEA has started a control room, which is functioning throughout the day. Yesterday, we received 75 phone calls and 11 emails. Today, we are continuing the same effort, with officials manning the control room and doing our very best to assist people,” Jaiswal added.
The spokesperson also said that India’s diplomatic leadership remains engaged with governments across the region as the crisis unfolds. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with several leaders in West Asia, including those from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel.
Jaiswal said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also maintaining regular contact with his counterparts across the region, including Iran. “You would have seen that our Prime Minister has spoken with several leaders in the region, including leaders from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel. The External Affairs Minister is also in regular contact with his counterparts from these countries, as well as Iran. Today, he also had several conversations with his counterparts, and those details have been made available to you,” Jaiswal added.
The conflict escalated after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries and Israel.
The escalation has disrupted key maritime routes in the region and raised concerns about wider economic consequences, including potential impacts on international energy markets and global economic stability.
