Lok Sabha Question No. 211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: Death of Indian Workers in Foreign Countries
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-211 ANSWERED ON- 02/02/2024

## DEATH OF INDIAN WORKERS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

## 211. SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

- (a) the number of people of Indian origin who died abroad while working there during the last three years and the current year, year-wise and country-wise;
- (b) whether any timeframe has been fixed for transportation of dead bodies of such persons and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to issue any circular to immediately inform a concerned Member of Parliament of the actual position in case the Member forwards a letter/e-mail to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for bringing the dead body of any Indian citizen who dies abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   whether   the   process   of   bringing   back   the   bodies   of   Indians   dying abroad is quite complicated;
- (e) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to simplify the process;
- and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a to f) The information available with the Ministry regarding the number of Indians who died abroad in the last three years and the current year including those working there is placed at Annexure 'A'.

The process of transportation of mortal remains to India involves various steps, most of which are to be undertaken by the local authorities in the country concerned. These steps differ somewhat from country to country and therefore there is no fixed time frame for eventual transportation.

Generally, the transportation of mortal remains is quicker in cases of natural deaths in comparison to the cases of unnatural deaths, due to local procedures involved in those countries for investigating the cause of death in case of unnatural death.

All cases of transportation of mortal remains are dealt on a priority basis by the Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Whenever a letter/email regarding a case of transportation of mortal remains is received from an Hon'ble Member of Parliament (MP), the Indian Head of the Mission/Post in the concerned country reverts back via letter/email to update the concerned MP about the current status of the case along with the estimated timeline of transportation of mortal remains.

Government   of   India   attaches   the   highest   priority   to   addressing   and resolving  the   issues   pertaining   to   transportation   of   mortal   remains   of Indian nationals. As soon as our Mission/Post comes to know of such unfortunate   death   of   an   Indian   citizen,   the   Mission/Post   immediately contacts the kin of the deceased Indian national as well as the local authorities   to   complete   the   necessary   formalities   and   facilitate   the transportation   or   local   burial/cremation   of   the   mortal   remains   in accordance   with   the   wishes   of   the   kin   and   local   regulations. In   order   to   expedite   the   repatriation   of   mortal   remains   to   India, Missions/Posts also liaise with different authorities in the foreign countries and concerned state authorities in India to obtain Medical report/death certificate   from   the   hospital   concerned,   police   report   (with   English translation,   if   required   in   case   of   accidental   or   unnatural   death)   and consent   letter   from   next   of   kin   of   the   deceased   for   local cremation/burial/transportation.

Mission/Post issues "No Objection Certificate' (NOC) for transportation or local cremation/burial as required immediately, including on weekends/holidays,   on   receipt   of   requisite   documents   and   further facilitates the process by coordinating for clearance and arrangements for embalming of mortal remains from the authorities concerned in the foreign country,   clearance   from   local   immigration/customs   department   and coordination   with   Indian   customs   authorities   and   also   with   State authorities in India if required.

*****

## Annexure-A

| S.No.   | Country             |   Number of Indians who died abroad |   Number of Indians who died abroad |   Number of Indians who died abroad |   Number of Indians who died abroad |
|---------|---------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| S.No.   | Country             |                                2020 |                                2021 |                                2022 |                                2023 |
| 1       | Afghanistan         |                                   8 |                                   2 |                                   0 |                                   1 |
| 2       | Algeria             |                                   6 |                                   1 |                                   0 |                                   3 |
| 3       | Angola              |                                   4 |                                   3 |                                   7 |                                   2 |
| 4       | Argentina           |                                   1 |                                   3 |                                   0 |                                   2 |
| 5       | Armenia             |                                   5 |                                   5 |                                   7 |                                  23 |
| 6       | Austria             |                                  12 |                                  14 |                                  15 |                                  14 |
| 7       | Australia           |                                  88 |                                  75 |                                 168 |                                 189 |
| 8       | Azerbaijan          |                                   3 |                                   2 |                                   3 |                                   5 |
| 9       | Bahrain             |                                 303 |                                 352 |                                 254 |                                 303 |
| 10      | Belarus             |                                   0 |                                   2 |                                   1 |                                   5 |
| 11      | Bangladesh          |                                  29 |                                  20 |                                  39 |                                  38 |
| 12      | Belgium             |                                   2 |                                  15 |                                  17 |                                   9 |
| 13      | Bhutan              |                                  22 |                                  21 |                                  15 |                                  13 |
| 14      | Bolivia             |                                   0 |                                   0 |                                   1 |                                   2 |
| 15      | Botswana            |                                   9 |                                  39 |                                  14 |                                  12 |
| 16      | Brazil              |                                   2 |                                   3 |                                   2 |                                   1 |
| 17      | Brunei              |                                  11 |                                   8 |                                  11 |                                   9 |
| 18      | Bulgaria            |                                   0 |                                   2 |                                   1 |                                   1 |
| 19      | Burkina Faso        |                                   2 |                                   1 |                                   5 |                                   3 |
| 20      | Cambodia            |                                   5 |                                  11 |                                   3 |                                  12 |
| 21      | Cameroon            |                                   5 |                                   8 |                                   3 |                                   6 |
| 22      | Canada              |                                 129 |                                 149 |                                 234 |                                 336 |
| 23      | Chile               |                                   0 |                                   4 |                                   4 |                                   1 |
| 24      | China               |                                  34 |                                  33 |                                  48 |                                  44 |
| 25      | Congo (Brazzaville) |                                   1 |                                   0 |                                   1 |                                   2 |
| 26      | Congo (Kinshasa)    |                                  22 |                                  23 |                                  23 |                                  37 |
| 27      | Colombia            |                                   2 |                                   0 |                                   3 |                                   4 |
| 28      | Cote D' Ivoire      |                                  12 |                                   5 |                                   9 |                                  11 |
| 29      | Croatia             |                                   1 |                                   3 |                                   2 |                                   1 |
| 30      | Cuba                |                                   2 |                                   1 |                                   3 |                                   0 |
| 31      | Cyprus              |                                   6 |                                  10 |                                   9 |                                   9 |
| 32      | Czech Republic      |                                   1 |                                   4 |                                   5 |                                   3 |

|   33 | Denmark             |    5 |    5 |   5 |   7 |
|------|---------------------|------|------|-----|-----|
|   34 | Djibouti            |    1 |    0 |   0 |   1 |
|   35 | Egypt               |   10 |   16 |  16 |  14 |
|   36 | Equatorial Guinea   |    1 |    1 |   1 |   3 |
|   37 | Eritrea             |    0 |    1 |   1 |   0 |
|   38 | Ethiopia            |    4 |   11 |  10 |   4 |
|   39 | Fiji                |    1 |    0 |   2 |   1 |
|   40 | Finland             |    6 |    3 |   7 |   4 |
|   41 | France              |   16 |   24 |  39 |  36 |
|   42 | Germany             |   83 |  103 |  53 | 107 |
|   43 | Ghana               |   19 |   22 |  18 |  16 |
|   44 | Greece              |   34 |   41 |  35 |  40 |
|   45 | Guatemala           |    0 |    1 |   0 |   1 |
|   46 | Guinea              |    3 |    6 |   9 |   3 |
|   47 | Hungary             |    3 |    2 |   6 |   6 |
|   48 | Indonesia           |   23 |   34 |  35 |  35 |
|   49 | Iran                |    7 |   14 |  12 |  20 |
|   50 | Iraq                |   26 |   25 |  20 |  26 |
|   51 | Ireland             |    8 |    5 |  11 |  14 |
|   52 | Israel              |    5 |    6 |   7 |   7 |
|   53 | Italy               |  216 |  304 | 296 | 304 |
|   54 | Jamaica             |    1 |    2 |   2 |   6 |
|   55 | Japan               |   24 |   21 |  31 |  26 |
|   56 | Jordan              |   25 |   19 |  18 |  18 |
|   57 | Kazakhstan          |    2 |    1 |   2 |   4 |
|   58 | Kenya               |   20 |   41 |  31 |  33 |
|   59 | Korea (Republic of) |    9 |    7 |  10 |  13 |
|   60 | Kuwait              | 1279 | 1201 | 731 | 708 |
|   61 | Kyrgyzstan          |    7 |    3 |   1 |   3 |
|   62 | Laos PDR            |    1 |    0 |   4 |   1 |
|   63 | Lebanon             |   21 |   10 |  16 |  12 |
|   64 | Liberia             |    0 |    0 |   6 |   4 |
|   65 | Libya               |    0 |    1 |   7 |   3 |
|   66 | Madagascar          |    4 |    6 |  10 |  10 |
|   67 | Malawi              |   11 |   20 |  18 |   7 |
|   68 | Malaysia            |  412 |  592 | 307 | 477 |

| 69      | Maldives            | 13   | 17   | 30   | 37   |
|---------|---------------------|------|------|------|------|
| 70      | Mali                | 7    | 7    | 0    | 4    |
| 71      | Malta               | 2    | 6    | 3    | 7    |
| 72      | Mauritius           | 9    | 10   | 10   | 19   |
| 73      | Mexico              | 3    | 5    | 8    | 7    |
| 74      | Morocco             | 1    | 2    | 0    | 2    |
| 75      | Mongolia            | 0    | 1    | 1    | 0    |
| 76      | Mozambique          | 14   | 11   | 9    | 7    |
| 77      | Myanmar             | 8    | 10   | 3    | 2    |
| 78      | Namibia             | 0    | 3    | 0    | 1    |
| 79      | Nepal               | 105  | 91   | 118  | 93   |
| 80      | Netherlands         | 17   | 12   | 17   | 15   |
| 81      | New Zealand         | 20   | 31   | 46   | 54   |
| 82      | Niger               | 2    | 0    | 0    | 0    |
| 83      | Nigeria             | 79   | 75   | 41   | 50   |
| 84      | Norway              | 1    | 3    | 4    | 9    |
| 85      | Oman                | 630  | 913  | 452  | 503  |
| 86      | Pakistan            | 6    | 1    | 12   | 9    |
| 87      | Palestine           | 0    | 0    | 0    | 0    |
| 88      | Panama              | 4    | 10   | 9    | 3    |
| 89      | Papua New Guinea    | 1    | 1    | 0    | 1    |
| 90      | Paraguay            | 0    | 0    | 0    | 1    |
| 91      | Peru                | 0    | 2    | 0    | 1    |
| 92      | Philippines         | 51   | 67   | 91   | 61   |
| 93      | Poland              | 13   | 12   | 15   | 13   |
| 94      | Portugal            | 14   | 19   | 29   | 26   |
| 95      | Qatar               | 385  | 420  | 366  | 352  |
| 96      | Romania             | 3    | 8    | 6    | 7    |
| 97      | Russia              | 19   | 26   | 16   | 27   |
| 98      | Rwanda              | 2    | 4    | 4    | 2    |
| 99      | Sao Tome & Principe | 0    | 0    | 1    | 0    |
| 100     | Saudi Arabia        | 3753 | 2328 | 2148 | 2693 |
| 101     | Serbia              | 0    | 3    | 6    | 2    |
| 102 103 | Senegal Seychelles  | 6 7  | 7 6  | 2 8  | 6 9  |

|   104 | Sierra Leone             |    0 |    1 |    8 |    5 |
|-------|--------------------------|------|------|------|------|
|   105 | Singapore                |  166 |  170 |  195 |  224 |
|   106 | Slovak Republic          |    0 |    1 |    1 |    0 |
|   107 | South Africa             |   35 |   66 |   67 |   45 |
|   108 | South Sudan              |    3 |    6 |    0 |    0 |
|   109 | Spain                    |   32 |   25 |   52 |   51 |
|   110 | Sri Lanka                |   27 |   28 |   26 |   26 |
|   111 | Sudan                    |   21 |   20 |   10 |    4 |
|   112 | Suriname                 |    0 |    1 |    0 |    4 |
|   113 | Swaziland                |    3 |    6 |    4 |    1 |
|   114 | Sweden                   |    6 |    5 |   14 |    2 |
|   115 | Switzerland              |   12 |    2 |   15 |   17 |
|   116 | Syria                    |    0 |    3 |    1 |    0 |
|   117 | Tanzania                 |   27 |   48 |   31 |   33 |
|   118 | Thailand                 |   76 |  113 |   83 |  122 |
|   119 | Togo                     |    0 |    4 |    2 |    1 |
|   120 | Trinidad & Tobago        |    1 |    7 |    1 |    0 |
|   121 | Tunisia                  |    3 |    7 |    1 |    1 |
|   122 | Turkey                   |    6 |    9 |   10 |    9 |
|   123 | Turkmenistan             |    0 |    1 |    0 |    1 |
|   124 | Uganda                   |   57 |   44 |   50 |   45 |
|   125 | United Arab Emi- rates   | 2454 | 2714 | 2208 | 2133 |
|   126 | United Kingdom           |   90 |  140 |  224 |  294 |
|   127 | Ukraine                  |    6 |   13 |    2 |    2 |
|   128 | United States of America |  280 |  395 | 1005 | 1057 |
|   129 | Uzbekistan               |    1 |    3 |    1 |    7 |
|   130 | Venezuela                |    0 |    3 |    0 |    1 |
|   131 | Vietnam                  |    9 |    4 |    6 |   10 |
|   132 | Yemen                    |    0 |    2 |    3 |    2 |
|   133 | Zambia                   |   11 |   25 |   15 |   14 |
|   134 | Zimbabwe                 |    3 |    3 |    2 |    5 |

*****