NEW DELHI, July 30 — Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that 16 Indian nationals, including 10 seafarers, have lost their lives and 75 others have sustained injuries due to the West Asia conflict since February. Presenting statistical data in a written response to CPI(M) MP John Brittas, the Minister noted that an additional 12 Indian citizens died in a separate industrial incident at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Gas Facility in June.
The Minister affirmed that Indian diplomatic missions in coordination with host governments have facilitated medical care for the injured and expedited the repatriation of mortal remains.
“Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East in 2026, 16 Indian nationals, including 10 seafarers have lost their lives in the Middle East, and 75 Indians have been injured,” stated Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh in his written submission to Parliament.
Financial relief mechanisms have been activated, with an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh disbursed under the Seafarers’ Welfare Fund Society for maritime casualties, alongside additional union-sponsored war-zone compensation. For victims of the Qatar gas facility explosion, relief funding of ₹2 lakh per family has been approved through the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
