8 Indians Dead, One Missing in West Asia Conflict: MEA

8 Indians Dead, One Missing in West Asia Conflict: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that eight Indians lost their lives in the conflict in West Asia, while one is missing.

In an inter-ministerial press briefing, Aseem R Mahajan said that the Indians lost their lives in “various incidents” in the region.

The MEA spokesperson also confirmed the death of an Indian in Kuwait on Sunday. However, the circumstances of the incident are not yet known.

“We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Indian mission in Kuwait is in touch with the family and is helping the authorities to send the mortal remains of the deceased back home at the earliest.”

The number of casualties has increased since March 20, when there were six casualties and one person missing.

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has confirmed the death of an Indian national in Riyadh due to the events of March 18.

The MEA further stated that it is monitoring the situation closely, with the safety and well-being of Indian citizens in the region being its top priority.

A dedicated control room has been activated, with Indian missions in West Asia working round the clock and issuing advisories, remaining in close touch with community groups and companies.

The spokesperson of the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated India’s call for restraint in the region. He said India is urging restraint and continues to advocate dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable option to resolve the tensions.

He further said India continues to presms for dialogue and diplomacy. He also said Narendra Modi held talks with Mohammed bin Salman, with both leaders emphasizing the need to preserve freedom of navigation through international waterways and condemning attacks on energy infrastructure.

In the meanwhile, the government has enabled the return of around 5.5 lakh passengers to India since February 28.

The travel disruptions are still considerable. Although some flights are operating from nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, airspace has been closed in Kuwait and Bahrain. Alternate arrangements are being made through nations such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Jordan.
The authorities are also trying to address the concerns of students who are appearing for their CBSE, ICSE, and other board examinations due to the disruptions caused by the conflict. Indian missions are also in touch with seafarers who are operating in the region.

The authorities are trying to assist the Indian citizens despite the challenges posed by the conflict.