403 Indian students died abroad since 2018; Canada tops list: Govt

New Delhi, February 2: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in response to a query in the Lok Sabha on Friday, said a total of 403 incidents of Indian students' deaths abroad have been reported since 2018, attributed to various causes such as natural events, accidents and medical conditions. The welfare of Indian students abroad has been underscored as a primary concern for the government, with Indian missions actively responding to issues faced by students on a priority basis.

Country-wise data disclosed by S Jaishankar indicated that Canada tops the list with 91 reported cases, followed by the UK with 48. Other notable figures include 40 in Russia, 36 in the US, 35 in Australia, 21 in Ukraine, and 20 in Germany. The statistics further detailed incidents in countries such as Cyprus (14), the Philippines and Italy (10 each), and Qatar, China, and Kyrgyzstan (9 each). The minister stressed the government's commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Indian students overseas.

On a separate note, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan affirmed India's longstanding and consistent policy towards Palestine. India supports a negotiated two-state solution for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine within secure and recognized borders, coexisting peacefully with Israel. The minister clarified India's condemnation of terror attacks on Israel and the loss of civilian lives during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. India has consistently called for restraint, de-escalation, and a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.

In response to a different query, Minister of State for External Affairs RajKumar Ranjan Singh highlighted India's 'Neighbourhood First policy,' describing it as a guiding principle for managing relations with countries in its immediate vicinity. The policy, an institutional priority for the government, aims to enhance physical, digital, and people-to-people connectivity across the region, fostering trade and commerce. Singh emphasized that the government maintains constant vigilance on developments affecting India's national security interests, taking necessary measures to safeguard them.

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(With inputs from agencies)