The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Friday, March 13, 2026, that two Indian nationals were killed following a drone strike in the Al Awahi Industrial Area of Sohar, Oman. These deaths mark the first recorded Indian fatalities on land in West Asia since the Iran-US conflict erupted on February 28.
The strike, involving two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also left 10 other Indians injured, though officials report that all are currently out of danger.
1. Details of the Sohar Attack
The incident occurred in Sohar, a major industrial hub located approximately 200 km from the Omani capital, Muscat.
- The Strike: According to the Oman News Agency (ONA), two drones crashed in the city. One struck the Al Awahi Industrial Zone, directly impacting a group of expatriate workers.
- Casualties & Injuries: MEA Joint Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan confirmed that of the 11 people injured in the blast, 10 are Indian citizens.
- Medical Update: Five of the injured have already been discharged, while five remain hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The Indian mission in Muscat is coordinating with the employer and local authorities to provide support.
2. Rising Toll on the Indian Diaspora
While the Sohar strike represents the first deaths on land, the Indian community has been heavily impacted by the maritime and aerial shadow war.
- Total Land Injuries: Over 36 Indians have been injured in drone and missile strikes across the region, including the UAE, since the war began.
- Maritime Losses: Three Indian sailors have previously been killed in attacks on merchant vessels, with one still reported missing.
- Basra Evacuation: Mahajan also provided an update on the Safesea Vishnu attack in Iraq, stating that 15 Indian crew members have been safely moved to a hotel in Basra, while efforts are underway to repatriate the body of the engineer killed in that strike.
3. Massive Repatriation Effort: 150,000 Return Home
Faced with the “high-impact” weather of both literal storms and regional warfare, a massive exodus of Indian nationals is underway.
- The Numbers: Approximately 150,000 Indians have returned from West Asia since February 28.
- Flight Operations: * Qatar: 2,900 citizens returned via recent Qatar Airways flights.
- Bahrain: 1,000 Indians repatriated.
- Saudi Arabia: Air India Express and Indigo commenced special non-scheduled flights from Riyadh on Thursday to facilitate the surge in travel demand.
Status Update: Indian Nationals in West Asia (March 14, 2026)
| Category | Data / Status |
| Fatalities (Land) | 2 (Sohar, Oman) |
| Fatalities (Sea) | 4 (Total including Safesea Vishnu) |
| Total Injured | 36+ (Across UAE, Oman, Iraq) |
| Total Repatriated | 150,000+ since Feb 28 |
| Mission Focus | Safety of 10 million Indians in the region |