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LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4802
ANSWERED ON – 20/03/2026

OVERSEAS DEATHS OF BIHAR NATIVES

†4802. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether several natives of Bihar have lost their life abroad during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details of the cause of such deaths (such as natural causes, accidents, suicide, crime, etc.), State-wise, particularly for Bihar; and

(c) the details and nature of assistance such as bilateral consular assistance, financial assistance extended to such families and expenditure incurred on repatriation of mortal remains provided by the Union Government and the Government of Bihar?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of deaths of Indian citizens abroad during the last three years is placed at Annexure. State-wise information including Bihar is not available with the Ministry.

The safety, security and well being of Indian nationals living in foreign countries is one of the foremost priorities for the Government of India. Indian Missions/Posts abroad render all possible consular assistance to the Indian nationals, whenever required. Indian nationals can contact the Indian Missions/Posts abroad via walk-ins, email, social media platforms, 24x7 emergency telephone numbers and Toll Free Helplines established by Missions/Posts abroad, grievance redressal portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS etc for redressal of their grievances. Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs) have been set up at Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur to provide assistance to Indian workers abroad. Shelter homes for distressed Indian nationals have also been set up at some Missions/Posts. Mission officials visit immigration offices and labour camps to address the complaints of Indian workers. Financial assistance to distressed Indians, if necessary, is provided through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). During emergency or crisis situations, our Missions/Posts abroad pro-actively help distressed/stranded Indian nationals in terms of providing food, shelter, medicine and helping their return to India. Apart from extending all possible consular assistance to Indian nationals, Indian Missions/Posts also assist in providing legal aid wherever needed. Missions/Posts maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers. The details on the number of cases, along with assistance provided under ICWF, during the last five years are as follows: