A tragic explosion at a gas processing facility in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City has claimed 13 lives, including 12 Indian nationals, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the Gulf nation in recent years. The blast occurred at the Barzan gas supply facility, operated by QatarEnergy LNG, while workers were reportedly restarting operations at the plant.
According to Qatari authorities, the explosion took place on Sunday evening and was caused by a "technical accident" during the restart process. Officials have ruled out sabotage or any hostile action. The facility had recently resumed operations after an extended shutdown linked to maintenance work and disruptions caused by earlier regional tensions.
Besides the fatalities, 66 people were injured in the blast and subsequent fire. Authorities said the injured are receiving treatment, with most reported to be in stable condition. Emergency response teams quickly brought the fire under control and secured the area.
The Embassy of India in Doha confirmed that 12 Indian workers were among those killed. In a statement, the embassy expressed condolences to the bereaved families and said it is working closely with Qatari authorities to provide assistance, including the early repatriation of the mortal remains.
India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and assured all possible support to the affected families. The Indian government is coordinating with the embassy and Qatari authorities to facilitate assistance for victims and their relatives.
Qatar's Energy Minister said the explosion occurred at the Barzan gas processing facility within the vast Ras Laffan industrial complex, one of the world's most important energy hubs. However, officials stressed that the country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure remains operational and that gas exports have not been significantly affected.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident. Safety experts and engineers are examining whether equipment failure, operational errors, or restart procedures contributed to the blast.
The incident has cast a shadow over Qatar's energy sector and raised fresh concerns about industrial safety at critical energy facilities, particularly as the country works to restore full production capacity following earlier disruptions in the region.
