Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, India confirms the deaths of eight nationals while actively working to repatriate citizens and provide necessary support.
Key Points
- Eight Indian nationals have died and one is missing in West Asia due to the ongoing conflict, prompting a response from the Indian government.
- The Indian government is providing support to the families of the deceased and coordinating with local authorities for the return of remains.
- The MEA is facilitating the return of Indian nationals from the region through various routes due to flight restrictions and airspace closures.
- Prime Minister Modi discussed the West Asia conflict with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, emphasising the need for de-escalation and freedom of navigation.
- The Indian government is addressing academic concerns for students in the region and providing support to Indian seafarers affected by the conflict.
Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said eight Indian nationals have lost their lives while one remains missing in "various incidents" in the region.
At an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi on the West Asia situation, additional secretary (Gulf), MEA, Aseem R Mahajan, also said, "Yesterday, an Indian national unfortunately lost his life in an attack in Kuwait."
However, he did not elaborate upon the circumstances of this 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 and for early return of his mortal remains to India," he said.
On March 20, at an inter-ministerial briefing on the West Asia situation, Mahajan had told reporters that six Indian nationals had lost their lives while one remained missing in "various incidents".
On Monday, he shared an update, saying, "eight Indian nationals have unfortunately lost their lives and one Indian national remains missing in various incidents".
The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia recently said that an Indian national was killed in Riyadh due to the "recent events of March 18".
The ministry also shared that since February 28, around 5.5 lakh passengers have returned from the region to India.
The MEA on Monday reiterated that it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region.
"We continue to call for restraint and de-escalation, and at the same time emphasise on dialogue and diplomacy, as a means to an early end to the conflict," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on March 28, spoke to the Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and discussed with him the ongoing conflict in West Asia and agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation.
In his telephonic conversation, the prime minister also reiterated India's condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure.
Mahajan said safety, security and welfare of the large Indian community in the region remains "our utmost priority".
"Our dedicated special Control Room remains operational... Our Missions and Posts across the region are functioning round the clock, operating 24x7 helplines, issuing regular updated advisories and remaining actively engaged with the Indian community associations, organisations and Indian companies spread across the region," he said
Further, the CBSE has already notified the assessment scheme for the declaration of results of Class X and Class XII in the region, following the cancellation of exams due to the ongoing conflict.
Academic concerns, particularly those related to CBSE, ICSE, Kerala boards and JEE and NEET exams, are being addressed through regular outreach to parents and students, the MEA said.
Also, particular attention is being given to the welfare of Indian seafarers. The Indian missions are in continuous contact with Indian crew members on vessels across the region to provide support, it said.
Facilitating travel and airspace restrictions
Mahajan said airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights between India and the UAE.
Around 85 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to India later on Monday.
Flights are operating from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to different destinations in India. With the Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 10 flights to India on March 30, it said.
Kuwait and Bahrain airspace remain closed. Jazeera Airways of Kuwait and Gulf Air of Bahrain have been operating non-scheduled commercial flights from the airport of Saudi Arabia to various destinations in India, the MEA official said.
"Due to flight restrictions and airspace closure, we continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Iran through Armenia and Azerbaijan, to India,... and from Israel, from Egypt and Jordan to India, from Iraq through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India, and from Kuwait and Bahrain through Saudi Arabia to India," he said.
