External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief on Tuesday after 12 nationals from India were confirmed among 13 people killed in an explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the Gulf’s most important gas-processing hubs.
The blast, which occurred on Sunday night at a facility within the Ras Laffan complex, also injured 66 people. Qatari authorities have said the incident was linked to a technical malfunction during an operation at a factory and that the injured were receiving medical care. Officials said no leak had been detected that could endanger people or the surrounding environment.
Jaishankar said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives and injuries, including of Indian nationals,” adding that the Embassy in Doha remained in contact with Qatari authorities and was reaching out to provide assistance to the families affected. His remarks marked the first formal response from New Delhi after casualty details were confirmed.
The Embassy in Doha said Qatari authorities had confirmed the deaths of 12 nationals from India in the Ras Laffan incident. It conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and said it was working closely with local authorities to extend all possible help, including support linked to documentation, hospital access, family communication and repatriation of mortal remains.
The 13th fatality was reported to be a Pakistani national. All those injured were said to be in stable condition, easing fears of a higher toll as emergency teams completed rescue and verification procedures at the site.
Ras Laffan Industrial City, located about 80km north of Doha, is central to Qatar’s gas economy and hosts some of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas and associated processing infrastructure. The incident took place within the wider industrial zone rather than at a public area, prompting a response focused on worker safety, plant operations and technical accountability.
Qatari authorities said procedures were under way to determine the precise technical causes of the explosion and to take necessary legal and operational steps. The Ministry of Interior extended condolences to the families of those killed and said competent agencies were continuing inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.
The accident has drawn attention to the large South Asian workforce employed across Gulf energy, construction and industrial projects. Qatar hosts a substantial expatriate community from India, with workers employed in engineering, operations, maintenance, logistics, hospitality, retail and domestic sectors. Industrial accidents involving migrant workers often trigger diplomatic coordination over identification, compensation, repatriation and communication with families in home states.
For New Delhi, the immediate priority is consular assistance. The Embassy’s engagement with Qatari authorities is expected to cover confirmation of identities, contact with next of kin, hospital updates for the injured, completion of local formalities and facilitation of transport of mortal remains. Such cases typically involve coordination between employers, local police, hospitals, immigration authorities and state-level officials once families are identified.
The tragedy also comes at a sensitive time for energy markets, with Qatar remaining a major supplier of gas to Asia and Europe. Early official statements sought to reassure that the incident had not caused wider environmental danger or immediate disruption to supply. Ras Laffan’s infrastructure is of global significance because Qatar is among the leading LNG exporters and has been expanding capacity to meet long-term demand from power, industry and petrochemical users.
Industrial safety specialists generally treat explosions in gas-processing zones as high-consequence events requiring detailed examination of operating conditions, pressure systems, ignition sources, maintenance records, contractor procedures and restart protocols. Investigators are likely to assess whether the blast occurred during routine work, commissioning, repair activity or a process-related transition.
