Qatar energy minister visits Indian Embassy after Barzan blast kills 12 Indians

Dubai,UPDATED: Jun 24, 2026 19:28 IST

Qatar's Energy Minister Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi on Wednesday visited the Indian Embassy in Doha to offer condolences on the death of 12 Indian nationals in an explosion at the Barzan gas facility. The blast took place on Sunday in Ras Laffan Industrial City and claimed 13 lives, including one Pakistani national.

The tragedy has also figured in high-level contacts between India and Qatar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that he received a phone call from Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who expressed grief over the deaths of the Indian nationals. According to Qatari authorities, at least 66 people were injured in the incident.

In a statement issued by QatarEnergy, which is headed by Al-Kaabi, the minister said, "The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that touches all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives during this tragic incident." Al-Kaabi, who is also the president and CEO of the state-owned national petroleum and natural gas company, met Indian Ambassador Vipul and conveyed condolences personally as well as on behalf of the Qatari energy sector.

"We pray for the speedy recovery for those who were injured," he added. Ambassador Vipul thanked the minister for the gesture and the support being provided by Qatari authorities to the individuals and families affected by the accident, the Indian Embassy said in a post on X.

Modi said he and the Amir of Qatar share the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. Qatari authorities said the incident was caused by a "technical malfunction" during operations at the facility, while an investigation has begun to determine the exact cause. QatarEnergy also said Al-Kaabi visited the Pakistani Embassy to offer condolences on the death of the Pakistani national, as Qatar continued outreach to those affected by the explosion.

With PTI Inputs

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