The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reported that eight Indian citizens have died and one remains unaccounted for in various incidents resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This announcement was made during an inter-ministerial briefing where Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the MEA, provided the latest updates regarding the safety of Indian nationals.

Mahajan mentioned that as of yesterday, an Indian national lost his life in a recent attack in Kuwait. However, details surrounding this incident were not disclosed. He expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and confirmed that the Indian Mission in Kuwait is coordinating with local authorities to support the family, including the repatriation of the individual’s remains to India.

Previously, on March 20, Mahajan had indicated that six Indians were confirmed dead and one was missing due to various events in the region. Following the latest developments, he updated the numbers to reflect the current situation accurately, noting that the safety of Indian nationals remains a top priority for the government.

Recent Fatalities and Community Support

In an earlier communication, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia reported the death of an Indian national in Riyadh linked to incidents occurring on March 18. The MEA also highlighted that since February 28, approximately 550,000 passengers have returned to India from the region, emphasizing ongoing efforts to assist Indian citizens caught in the conflict.

During the briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed the government’s commitment to closely monitor the situation in West Asia and called for de-escalation through dialogue. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the conflict and the necessity to maintain the freedom of navigation in the area.

Safety Initiatives and Air Travel Updates

Mahajan stressed that the welfare of the significant Indian population in the Middle East remains a central concern. The ministry has established a dedicated Control Room that is operating continuously to assist concerned citizens. Indian missions across the region are also actively functioning and providing 24/7 support services, including helplines and regular advisories for the community.

For students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has implemented an assessment scheme for Class X and XII results due to the cancellation of examinations amid the conflict. The MEA is addressing academic issues, including those affecting CBSE, ICSE, and various state boards, through continuous communication with students and their families.

Attention is being given to the welfare of Indian seafarers, with Indian missions maintaining contact with crews on vessels throughout the region. In terms of air travel, airlines are operating limited non-scheduled flights between India and the United Arab Emirates, with approximately 85 flights anticipated from the UAE to India.

Flight Operations and Travel Regulations

Flights are also resuming from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to several locations in India. With the recent partial reopening of Qatar’s airspace, Qatar Airways plans to operate around ten flights to India shortly. Meanwhile, airspace in Kuwait and Bahrain remains closed; however, non-scheduled commercial flights are being conducted from Saudi Arabia to India by Jazeera Airways and Gulf Air.

Due to ongoing flight restrictions and airspace closures, the MEA is facilitating the return of Indian nationals from several countries, including Iran, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, through alternative routes to ensure their safe passage back to India.

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