12 Indians among 13 killed in Qatar gas plant explosion; Embassy issues helpline numbers

At least 13 people, including 12 Indian nationals, lost their lives and 66 others sustained injuries after a powerful explosion ripped through Qatar's Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex on Sunday. The incident occurred during efforts to resume operations at the facility, which had remained shut following an Iranian attack earlier this year. Confirming the casualties, Qatar's Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi described the incident as a tragedy and said the victims included workers of Indian and Pakistani origin. "I find myself today having to do something I have always hoped would never happen, and that is to announce the tragic loss of 13 lives of our people who hold Indian and Pakistani nationalities," Qatar's energy minister Saad al-Kaabi told reporters on Monday. He further stated that 66 people were injured in the blast, which took place as workers were attempting to restart operations at the strategic energy hub.