Two Indian nationals have died and one remains missing amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Wednesday. Officials said the casualties occurred when merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members came under attack in conflict-affected waters in the region.
Speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is closely monitoring the situation and prioritising the safety of Indian citizens in the region. India has a large diaspora across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with around 10 million Indians living and working there.
According to the ministry, the two deaths and the disappearance took place while the individuals were on board merchant ships that were targeted during the conflict. Authorities also reported that several other Indians have sustained injuries, including one person in Israel and another reportedly injured in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
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Jaiswal said Indian missions across the region are maintaining constant contact with community members and coordinating assistance wherever required. To manage emergency requests, the MEA has set up a special control room that operates round the clock and coordinates with Indian embassies and consulates in affected countries.
Officials said the control room has already received several distress calls and emails from citizens seeking help or information. The ministry added that it remains committed to providing assistance to Indian nationals residing in the Gulf and other parts of the Middle East.
Meanwhile, PM Modi has been in contact with leaders from several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel regarding the evolving situation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is also in regular communication with his counterparts across the region, including officials from Iran.
The conflict escalated following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28. Iran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israeli and American assets across parts of the Gulf region, triggering disruptions in key maritime routes and raising concerns over global energy markets and economic stability.
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