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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3130
ANSWERED ON 19/03/2026
SAFETY OF INDIANS IN MIDDLE EAST
3130. SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA
DR. JOHN BRITTAS
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
a) the number of Indian nationals presently residing in West Asian countries, including Israel,
Iran, Iraq and the Gulf region;
b) Whether any Indian nationals have been affected, stranded or displaced due to the
prevailing security situation, in view of the ongoing hostilities involving Israel, the United
States and Iran;
c) The advisories and contingency measures, including evacuation plans, activated by the
Government; and
d) Steps taken to ensure the safety and protection of Indian citizens in the region?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a & b) Presently, more than 1 crore Indian nationals are residing in countries in West Asia
and the Gulf region. In the recent conflict, as per available information, 5 Indian nationals
are reported as deceased (4 in Oman and 1 in Iraq); 25 Indian nationals are reported as
injured (17 in UAE, 5 in Oman, and 1 each in Qatar, Israel and Saudi Arabia); and, 1 Indian
national is reported as missing (on a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman).
(c & d) The Government has issued regular advisories for Indian nationals in the region to
provide information on the evolving situation and the available travel options, as well as
guidance on following the safety guidelines of the local authorities and information on
contacting the Indian Embassy/Consulate for assistance. These advisories are disseminated
widely, including on social media platforms. Indian Embassies and Consulates in the region
have set up 24x7 emergency helpline numbers to assist Indian nationals. The Ministry of
External Affairs has also set up a dedicated Special Control Room to monitor the situation,
respond to queries from the affected Indian nationals and their families, and for real-time
coordination with Indian Embassies and Consulates for emergency cases. Till 13 March
2026, the Special Control Room has addressed 939 phone calls and 195 emails. Details of
the helplines are attached at Annexure-I.
1The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassies and Consulates in the region have
been coordinating closely with the respective local authorities in the impacted countries, as
well as with our Ministry of Civil Aviation, to facilitate the return to India of passengers who
were stranded in the region and those who were visiting those countries on short-term visas.
Upon partial opening of airspace across the region, Government has facilitated a number of
commercial flights, including non-scheduled operations, for the return of Indian passengers.
In those countries where commercial flight operations are not yet available, Indian nationals
are being facilitated to obtain transit visa and travel to adjacent countries for embarking on
available flights.
The Government remains committed to the safety and security of the Indian nationals
residing in West Asia and the Gulf region and is undertaking all possible measures to ensure
their well-being.
2Annexure I
Name of Date of Details of the Control room and 24x7
country Advisory emergency helplines by MEA and Indian
issued by Missions
Indian
Missions
MEA HQ 1 March 2026 1800118797 (Toll Free)
7 March 2026 +91 11 2301 2123
+91 11 2301 4104
+91 11 2301 7905
Email: situationroom@mea.gov.in
Bahrain 28 Feb. 2026 +973 39418071
9 March 2026 +973 38400433
Iran 23 Feb 2026 +98 9128109115
3 March 2026 +98 9128109102
9 March 2026 +98 9128109109
+98 9932179359
Email cons.tehran@mea.gov.in
Iraq 28 Feb. 2026 +964 7716511185
8 March 2026 +964 7704444899 (Arabic)
Email: cons.baghdad@mea.gov.in
Cons1.baghdad@mea.gov.in
pol.baghdad@mea.gov.in
Israel 28 Feb. 2026 +972 547520711
+922 543278392
Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
Jordan 28 Feb. 2026 +962 770422276
4 March 2026 +962 786440990
Kuwait 28 Feb 2026 +965 65501946
Email: community.kuwait@mea.gov.in
Lebanon 1 March 2026 +961 76860128
Email: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in
Oman 28 Feb 2026 8007 1234 (Toll Free)
+968 9828 2270 (whatsapp)
Email: cw.muscat@mea.gov.in
cons.muscat@mea.gov.in
Palestine 28 Feb 2026 +970 592916418
Email: repoffice@mea.gov.in
3Cons.ramallah@mea.gov.in
Qatar 28 Feb. 2026 +974-55647502
3 March 2026 +974 55362508
4 March 2026 +974 55384683
6March 2026 Email: cons.doha@mea.gov.in
Saudi Arabia & 3 March 2026 Riyadh
Yemen 8 March 2026 800 247 1234 (Toll Free)
(EOI, Riyadh is +966 114884697
concurrently +966-542126748 (Whatsapp)
accredited to Email: cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in
Yemen)
Jeddah
800 244 0003 (Toll Free)
+966 556122301
+966 126648660
+966 122614093
+966 536209704 (Whatsapp)
Email: consew.jeddah@mea.gov.in,
velab.jeddah@mea.gov.in
Syria - +963 993385973
Email: cons.damascus@mea.gov.in
UAE 28 Feb 2026 800 46342 (Toll Free)
5 March 2026 +971 543090571
Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in
ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in
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