NEW DELHI, March 13, 2026 — Two Indian nationals were killed and 10 others injured on Friday following a drone attack on the industrial city of Sohar in Oman. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the fatalities, which mark the first Indian deaths on land since the regional conflict began on February 28.
Joint Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan stated during an inter-ministerial briefing that the strike occurred in the Al Awhi Industrial Zone. He affirmed that while 10 Indians were among the 11 injured, none are reported to have life-threatening injuries. Five of the wounded have already been discharged from local hospitals, while five others continue to receive medical care.
“We express our deepest condolences to their families,” Mahajan declared. He maintained that the Indian mission is in constant contact with the employer and local Omani authorities to provide all necessary assistance. The Oman News Agency affirmed that two drones crashed in the city, directly hitting the industrial sector where the expatriate workers were located.
The official also noted that the total number of Indian fatalities in the ongoing West Asia crisis has now reached five. Previous deaths involved three sailors on merchant vessels and one crew member on a tanker near Basra. Mahajan stated that 150,000 Indians have already returned to the country since the hostilities erupted, with significant numbers arriving from Qatar and Bahrain.
The Ministry asserted that diplomatic efforts have been intensified to protect the 10 million Indian nationals residing in the region. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal affirmed that India is engaging with BRICS member states to evolve a consensus and has urged all parties to adopt the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
