The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reported that 633 Indian students have lost their lives in 41 countries over the past five years. The highest number of fatalities, 172, were reported in Canada.

What Happened: The MEA released these figures in response to a question raised by Kerala MP Kodikunnil Suresh during the ongoing monsoon session of the Lok Sabha, as per The Indian Express.

The causes of these deaths varied from natural causes and accidents to medical emergencies, according to the written response by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh.

Following Canada, the U.S. recorded the second-highest number of Indian student deaths (108), trailed by the UK (58), Australia (57), Russia (37), and Germany (24).

The MEA also reported one student death in neighboring Pakistan.

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The ministry, in response to queries about violent attacks on Indian students abroad, stated that recent data from Indian Missions/Posts abroad does not indicate an increase in such incidents.

However, 19 deaths due to violence or attacks were reported, with the majority in Canada (9), followed by the U.S. (6), and one each in Australia, the UK, China, and Kyrgyzstan.

The MEA also disclosed that the total number of Indian students studying abroad stands at 1.33 million in 2024, indicating a steady rise from 0.75 million in 2022 and 0.93 million in 2023.

Why It Matters: The high number of student deaths in Canada, particularly, raises concerns given the recent reports of increasing drug and alcohol abuse among Indian students in the country.

The escalating unemployment crisis in Canada has led to a surge in substance abuse cases among Indian students grappling with financial strains and joblessness.

Furthermore, a CBC News report highlighted that the Canadian unemployment rate has been on an upward trend for over a year, making it increasingly difficult for students to secure jobs. The unemployment rate rose to 6.4% in June, from 6.2% in May.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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