A tragic incident has hit the Indian expat community living in Oman. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially confirmed that two Indian nationals lost their lives in a drone crash in Sohar. Debris from the downed drone fell directly on the Al-Awhi Industrial Area on March 13, 2026. Ten other Indians sustained injuries during the incident. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is currently working with local authorities to assist the victims and their families.
What are the casualty details and medical status?
The drone attack resulted in casualties among the workers present at the industrial site. Aseem R. Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the MEA, shared the confirmed numbers during a recent inter-ministerial briefing. Out of the 11 total injured people, 10 are Indian citizens.
- Fatalities: 2 Indian nationals confirmed dead.
- Injuries: 10 Indian nationals injured. All sustained non-lethal injuries.
- Medical Update: 5 injured Indians have been safely discharged from the hospital.
- Current Treatment: 5 Indians remain under medical care in a local hospital.
How is the Indian government handling the situation?
The Indian Embassy in Muscat remains in constant touch with Omani authorities to monitor the ongoing investigations. Oman News Agency reported that local security teams are actively looking into the drone crash. With the regional US-Israel-Iran conflict escalating over the past 14 days, the safety of Indians in the Gulf region has become a top priority. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held talks with his Iranian counterpart to advocate for the security of Indian nationals and merchant vessels.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has marked the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as a critical threat zone. Before this specific incident, the Indian government had already managed to safely bring back over 52,000 Indians from the Gulf region between March 1 and March 7 via special and commercial flights. Families of expats are advised to stay in touch with official embassy channels for any required assistance.
