Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to convey his condolences over the death of 12 Indian nationals in a tragic explosion at an LNG facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, also left 66 others injured, with no life-threatening conditions reported.
Modi Expresses Gratitude for Amir's Call
PM Modi shared details of the conversation on X, thanking the Qatari leader for reaching out. "I thank His Highness the Amir of Qatar for his phone call and condolences on the loss of lives of Indian nationals in the tragic accident at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. We both share the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," Modi posted. He added that India and Qatar remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of their citizens and stand in solidarity with each other.
Details of the Incident
The Embassy of India in Doha confirmed on Monday that 12 Indian nationals had died in the blast. Citing Qatari authorities, the embassy stated that the injured are in stable condition and receiving appropriate medical treatment. "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the departed souls," the embassy said in a post on X.
QatarEnergy, in an updated statement, confirmed that 13 people lost their lives in the explosion and subsequent fire. The deceased were identified as Indian and Pakistani nationals. The injured included citizens of Qatar, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Nepal. QatarEnergy emphasized that the incident was an operational accident and "not sabotage or hostile in nature."
Impact on LNG Operations
According to QatarEnergy, production at the Barzan gas facility had been completely halted since December 2025 due to urgent maintenance and was restarted only two days before the incident. The company's emergency response teams, along with Qatar's Civil Defence, swiftly contained and extinguished the fire. Work is underway to assess damage to the Barzan facility and nearby infrastructure. Importantly, QatarEnergy's LNG facilities, Ras Laffan Port, logistics operations, and export capabilities remain unaffected by the explosion and fire.
Investigation Underway
A full investigation into the cause of the explosion has been launched. QatarEnergy expressed heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those who lost their lives and pledged full support to those affected by the tragedy.
