NEW DELHI, March 13, 2026 — A drone strike targeting the Al Awhi Industrial Zone in Sohar, Oman, resulted in the deaths of two Indian expatriates on Friday. The incident has prompted the Indian government to ramp up evacuation and safety measures for its citizens across the region as the conflict involving several nations enters its third week.
Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, affirmed the deaths and stated that 10 other Indians sustained injuries in the blast. He declared that the Indian mission in Oman is rendering all possible support to the families of the deceased. Mahajan also confirmed that 15 Indian crew members from the oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, which was attacked near Iraq earlier this week, have been safely moved to a hotel in Basra.
The official stated that the government is working to ensure the safe passage of over 20 Indian-flagged merchant vessels currently positioned near the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that nearly 2,900 Indians returned from Qatar recently, alongside 1,000 from Bahrain, as part of a larger movement of 150,000 citizens fleeing the conflict zones.
“We told all sides to adopt the path of diplomacy and dialogue,” stated spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He affirmed that India is in communication with international partners to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible. Jaiswal also maintained that over 100 Indians have successfully crossed from Iran into Armenia via land borders to escape the volatile situation.
The Ministry declared that the mortal remains of the deceased in Iraq and Oman are being transported back to India. Authorities asserted that the safety of the Indian diaspora remains the top priority, with missions across West Asia remaining on high alert to assist those seeking repatriation.
