Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday that eight Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one remains missing in "various incidents" across the region.
During an interministerial briefing on the situation in West Asia, Aseem R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the MEA, stated, "Yesterday, an Indian national unfortunately lost his life in an attack in Kuwait." He did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding the death.
"We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our mission in Kuwait is in touch with the family of the deceased and is coordinating closely with the local authorities to render all support for the early return of his mortal remains to India," Mahajan added.
On March 20, during another briefing on the West Asia situation, Mahajan had reported that six Indian nationals had died, with one still missing in "various incidents".
Despite the ongoing challenges, the Indian government is actively pursuing evacuation and travel arrangements. Since February 28, nearly 5.5 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region. Authorities are continuing their efforts to assist those who remain stranded.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s stance, urging calm and diplomatic engagement. "We continue to call for restraint and de-escalation and, at the same time, emphasise dialogue and diplomacy as a means to an early end to the conflict," he said.
ALSO READ: Centre Warns Of ‘Android God Mode’ Malware Targeting Indian Users; Here's What You Should Know
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Mohammed bin Salman on March 28. The two leaders discussed the ongoing crisis and highlighted the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation. India also reiterated its strong opposition to attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.
The MEA emphasised that the safety of Indians abroad remains its top priority. A dedicated control room is functioning 24/7, while Indian missions continue issuing regular advisories and staying in contact with community groups and companies.