New Delhi: A devastating explosion at Qatar’s Barzan gas processing facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City has claimed 13 lives, including 12 Indian nationals, in one of the country’s worst industrial accidents in recent years.
Qatari authorities confirmed the fatalities on Monday and said all injured individuals are receiving medical treatment, with their conditions reported to be stable. The Indian Embassy expressed condolences over the loss of lives and conveyed solidarity with the people and government of Qatar during the tragedy.
The explosion occurred on Sunday night while workers were carrying out operations to restart the Barzan gas facility after months of inactivity. According to officials, the blast was linked to the restart process and has been classified as an industrial accident.
Authorities have also confirmed that 66 people were injured in the incident, while 18 workers remain missing. Search and rescue teams, including specialised emergency response units and Civil Defence personnel, continue efforts to locate those unaccounted for amid the damaged facility.
The Barzan plant plays a crucial role in Qatar’s energy infrastructure, processing nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of natural gas daily. The facility supplies gas for electricity generation and water desalination projects across the country, making it a key component of Qatar’s domestic energy network.
The plant had remained shut for several months following regional disruptions and damage caused by earlier tensions in the Gulf. With negotiations aimed at easing regional tensions progressing, authorities had begun efforts to restore operations at the site when the accident occurred.
Qatar remains one of the world’s leading natural gas producers, and the Barzan facility is considered vital to the country’s energy sector. The incident has raised concerns about the challenges involved in restarting major industrial infrastructure after extended shutdown periods.
As rescue operations continue, attention remains focused on locating the missing workers and determining the exact cause of the explosion. Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
