Two Indians Killed, Ten Injured in Oman Drone Strike; MEA Confirms Repatriation Process

Two Indian nationals were killed and ten others injured in a drone strike in the industrial city of Sohar in Oman, Indian government officials confirmed on Friday. According to reports citing a security source, the drone crashed in the Al-Awahi industrial area, causing casualties among foreign workers at the site. The attack comes amid heightened tensions across West Asia, raising concerns about the safety of expatriate workers in the region.

At a press briefing, Aseem Mahajan, additional secretary in the Gulf Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, said two Indian nationals had died in the strike while 10 Indians were among the 11 people injured. He added that five of the injured have already been discharged after receiving treatment, while the remaining five are still undergoing medical care in hospitals. Authorities said none of the injuries are currently considered serious. The Indian mission in Oman is coordinating with local officials and the company involved to assist the victims and facilitate the repatriation of the bodies of those who died.

Indian officials said the government is closely monitoring the safety of its citizens across the Gulf region, where nearly one crore Indians live and work. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said India has remained in constant contact with countries in West Asia amid the deteriorating security situation. He noted that Narendra Modi recently spoke with Masoud Pezeshkian to express concern about the safety of Indian nationals in the region and the security of key energy transit routes. Separately, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held discussions with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi regarding regional developments.

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Meanwhile, the government sought to reassure citizens in India that fuel supplies remain stable despite tensions affecting shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz. Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said India’s refineries are operating at full capacity and inventories of crude oil are adequate. Authorities also confirmed that Indian seafarers in the Gulf are being closely monitored, noting that around 23,000 Indian sailors are currently working on merchant and offshore vessels in the region as security advisories remain in place.

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