Two Indians Killed in Drone Attack in Oman; 10 Injured

• Two Indian nationals killed in drone attack in Sohar, Oman
• Ten Indians among eleven injured; none of the injuries serious
• Government monitoring safety of Indians across Gulf region
• Centre assures adequate fuel and LPG supplies despite West Asia tensions

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th March: Two Indian nationals were killed and ten others injured in a drone attack in Sohar city of Oman, the government confirmed on Friday, even as authorities reassured citizens that India has adequate fuel supplies despite rising tensions in West Asia.

The incident occurred in the Al-Awahi industrial area in Sohar, a city located near Muscat. According to reports citing security sources, the drone crashed in the industrial zone, killing two foreign workers and injuring several others.

At a government briefing, Additional Secretary in the Gulf Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Aseem Mahajan confirmed that two Indian citizens were among those killed.

“We deeply regret to share that two Indian nationals lost their lives in the attack. Out of the eleven people injured, ten are Indians. Five have already been discharged after treatment while the remaining five are undergoing treatment in hospitals. None of the injuries are serious,” Mahajan said.

Indian authorities are in close contact with local officials and the company involved to assist the injured. The Indian mission in Oman is also facilitating the repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased.

The government said it is closely monitoring the safety of Indian citizens across the Gulf region, where nearly one crore Indians live and work.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains engaged with countries in West Asia amid the evolving security situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing concern about the safety of Indian nationals and the security of global energy transit routes.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding the regional situation and bilateral cooperation.

Officials said around 170 Indian nationals in Iran have crossed the land border into Armenia, with several already returning to India while others are expected to travel back via commercial flights in the coming days.

The government also provided updates on Indian seafarers operating in the Gulf region amid security concerns near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the shipping ministry, there are currently 24 Indian-flagged vessels west of the strait carrying 677 Indian sailors, while three vessels east of the strait have 76 sailors on board. Overall, nearly 23,000 Indian seafarers are working on merchant and offshore vessels in the Gulf.

In a related development, the crew of the vessel Safesea Vishnu was safely evacuated after an attack near Basra in Iraq. The 15 rescued seafarers are currently staying in a hotel in Basra while arrangements are being made for their return to India.

Amid concerns that the regional conflict could disrupt energy supplies, the government strongly dismissed reports of any fuel shortage in the country.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India’s refining capacity stands at 258 million metric tonnes, making the country self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production.

“All our refineries are operating at full capacity and we have adequate inventories of crude oil. Supplies are being maintained and there is absolutely no need for panic,” she said.

Officials added that around 50 lakh LPG cylinders are delivered daily across India, serving more than 33 crore consumers, including over 10.5 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

The government acknowledged that LPG bookings have increased from the usual 50 lakh per day to nearly 70–80 lakh amid panic buying. Authorities urged citizens not to rush for cylinders or spread rumours.

The government also advised households with piped natural gas (PNG) connections to shift from LPG where possible, noting that nearly six million households can immediately use the pipeline network.

Officials reiterated that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, LPG or natural gas in the country and appealed to citizens to rely only on official information.