Over 800 Indian students perished overseas from 2018 to 2024.
Canada, the United States, and Qatar have reported the highest number of fatalities among Indian students abroad, according to data compiled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Canada recorded 119 deaths, making it the third-highest in the list of top 5 countries with the highest casualties. Among these, 17 deaths were due to violent attacks, the highest among the top 5 countries. Australia reported 53 deaths, also among the top 5, with 3 deaths due to violent attacks.
The United States, with 141 deaths, topped the list of the highest casualties. The UAE followed closely with 133 deaths, the majority of which were not due to violent incidents. Interestingly, no student deaths from violent incidents were reported in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
The data underscores the need for a multi-pronged approach from policymakers, universities, families, and students to address the vulnerabilities of Indian students living and studying in foreign countries.
Issues related to health, mental well-being, and accidents are the leading contributors to the deaths of Indian students abroad. In fact, 96% of the 842 recorded deaths were due to medical causes, suicides, accidents, and other causes, while only 4% were due to violent attacks.
Clean, structured, and ready-to-use datasets related to these deaths can be downloaded from Dataful. However, it's important to note that there are no specific publicly available detailed and ready-to-use datasets for the deaths of Indian students abroad categorized by medical causes, suicide, accidents, and violence. Such data might be accessed through official government or educational institutions' reports, but these sources are not listed here.
As safety concerns for Indian students abroad are secondary compared to health, mental well-being, and accident-related issues, it's crucial to prioritise measures that address these primary causes of death. As of January 2024, over 1.33 million Indian students were studying in foreign universities. With this number expected to grow, it's essential to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of these students.
