16 Indians killed, 75 more injured in West Asia conflict since Feb: Govt

Sixteen Indian nationals, including ten seafarers, have been killed and another seventy-five injured in conflicts in West Asia since February, according to a statement by the minister of state for external affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, during a session of the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Additionally, twelve Indian nationals perished in an unrelated accident at a gas facility in Qatar during the same period. The figures include casualties from multiple locations, with one fatality in Saudi Arabia, two in Kuwait, eight in Oman, one in Iraq, and four in the United Arab Emirates. Among the injured, thirty-two were in the UAE, twenty-four in Oman, four in Qatar, thirteen in Kuwait, one in Saudi Arabia, and one in Israel. The Indian government, working alongside host nations, has taken steps to assist the families of the deceased, facilitating the early repatriation of their bodies. Medical care for the injured has been arranged through local hospitals, with Indian embassies and consulates coordinating with local authorities to provide support. Singh detailed that in cases involving seafarers who died in war zone incidents, ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh was provided under the Directorate General of Maritime Administration’s Welfare Scheme (Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society). This compensation was disbursed in five instances, following due diligence and verification. For seafarers covered under Collective Bargaining Agreements with their respective unions, additional war-zone compensation is available. Officers are entitled to ₹12 lakh through the Maritime Union of India, while crew members receive ₹10 lakh via the National Union of Seafarers of India. The Recruitment and Placement Service Licence is primarily responsible for pursuing claims under the vessel’s protection and indemnity insurance cover. Compensation for the fatalities at the Qatar gas facility is managed under the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), with ₹200,000 sanctioned for each of the deceased's next of kin. Singh noted that the government does not have information regarding direct compensation paid by the Qatari government to the affected families. Coordination efforts by the external affairs ministry and Indian diplomatic missions in the region ensured that stranded citizens could access necessary services. With the partial reopening of airspace, the government organized numerous commercial flights, including non-scheduled operations, to aid repatriation. In areas where commercial flights were unavailable, Indian nationals were assisted in obtaining transit visas to neighboring countries to board available flights. To safeguard the safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad, the government employs a comprehensive strategy. This includes issuing regular advisories, setting up additional emergency helplines, maintaining 24x7 control rooms, and conducting evacuation operations when needed. The Rapid Response Cell (RRC) within the external affairs ministry collaborates with relevant agencies to manage these efforts effectively. The measures aim to ensure the continued safety and well-being of Indian citizens in the region amid ongoing tensions and challenges.