Two Indian nationals have been killed and another remains missing after merchant vessels carrying them came under attack amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.
The ministry also confirmed that several Indian citizens have been injured across the Gulf region, with Indian missions coordinating medical assistance and support.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during an inter-ministerial briefing on the situation that the government is closely monitoring developments and assisting affected nationals.
“There have been reports of some casualties. We have two Indian nationals whom we have lost, and one is missing. These three Indian nationals died or are missing. It happened when they were on merchant vessels that came under attack,” Jaiswal said.
He added that some Indians injured in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region are currently receiving treatment and are in contact with Indian consular officials.
Jaiswal also confirmed that an Indian national injured earlier in the day in Dubai is undergoing treatment, with the Indian mission closely monitoring his condition.
“Today in the morning, you would have seen reports that the Indian national was injured in Dubai. Our consulate is in touch with him. He is receiving treatment at the hospital and we are in regular contact to ensure his welfare and well-being,” he said.
Amid rising concerns over the safety of Indian citizens in the conflict-affected region, the Ministry of External Affairs has activated a dedicated control room to respond to queries and provide assistance.
“In MEA, we have started a control room which is functioning. We have been receiving a lot of phone calls regarding Indian nationals and their welfare, and we have been guiding the people calling,” Jaiswal said.
India has a large expatriate population across the Gulf and West Asia, many of whom are employed in maritime, logistics, and energy sectors that are exposed to regional security risks.
The MEA said it continues to coordinate with Indian missions in the region to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and facilitate assistance or repatriation if required.