NEW DELHI — Sixteen Indian nationals, including 10 seafarers, have lost their lives in the Middle East since conflict flared across the region earlier this year, the Union government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Additionally, 75 Indians sustained injuries across six countries in the region during the same period.
Responding to a query from CPI(M) MP John Brittas regarding the impact of ongoing West Asian hostilities on Indian citizens, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh detailed the casualty distribution across the region.
According to government data, the fatalities include eight in Oman, four in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), two in Kuwait, one in Saudi Arabia, and one in Iraq. Meanwhile, 75 Indians suffered injuries in the region—32 in the UAE, 24 in Oman, 13 in Kuwait, four in Qatar, and one each in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
In an unrelated incident not tied to armed hostilities, 12 Indian nationals also lost their lives at the Ras Laffan gas facility in Qatar, the minister added.
Assistance, Repatriation, and Compensation
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) assured Parliament that diplomatic missions across West Asia worked in close coordination with host governments to facilitate the swift repatriation of mortal remains and ensure medical care for the injured.
"Indian embassies and consulates coordinated with local authorities and hospitals for regular health updates and extended required assistance, including establishing contact with family members, guiding them on travel options, and facilitating safe returns," MoS Singh stated.
For maritime workers caught in war zones, the government confirmed ex-gratia financial relief. Under the Directorate General of Shipping's DGMA Welfare Scheme (administered by the Seafarers' Welfare Fund Society), an ex-gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh is provided to the next of kin of deceased seafarers following verification.
Furthermore, seafarers covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements with recognized maritime unions are eligible for additional war-zone compensation—up to ₹12 lakh for officers through the Maritime Union of India, and ₹10 lakh for crew members via the National Union of Seafarers of India.
Evacuations from Iran and Visa Issues in Dubai
Addressing broader security concerns in West Asia, the minister noted that the Indian Embassy in Tehran has assisted 2,557 Indian citizens in crossing from Iran into neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel back to India since February 2026. An estimated 7,000 Indian nationals—comprising medical and seminary students, industrial workers, seafarers, and fishermen—remain in Iran.
The ministry noted that it has engaged Iranian authorities to address the academic disruptions faced by returning Indian medical students, while advising prospective travelers to defer non-essential trips to Iran until conditions normalize.
In response to questions about over 130 Indian healthcare workers—primarily from Kerala—affected by the sudden closure of the Iranian Hospital in Dubai, Singh noted that Indian diplomatic posts in the UAE are actively engaging local authorities through diplomatic channels to mitigate visa and employment difficulties, while acknowledging that visa regulations remain within host countries' sovereign jurisdiction.
Update on 'Operation Checkmate' in the United States
Separately, the MEA addressed reports regarding "Operation Checkmate," a recent law enforcement sweep conducted by US Border Patrol agents in Arizona between May 11 and May 15, 2026.
According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) details released on June 1, 52 individuals—including 36 semi-truck drivers—were arrested for alleged unlawful entry into the United States, of whom 30 were identified as Indian nationals facing deportation proceedings under US federal law.
The minister clarified that the Indian government had no prior notification regarding the enforcement action, but the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., promptly formally requested official particulars, names, and verification data from US authorities, which remain pending confirmation.
