New Delhi: A crew member of an oil tanker became the first Indian casualty of the US-Iran war which broke out on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several other leaders.
A bomb-laden drone boat struck a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday night, Oman’s state-run news agency reported.
The attack on the tanker named MKD VYOM took place in off the coast of Muscat, the capital city of the sultanate.
The deceased crew member was identified as a mariner from India. There was no immediate information on who launched this attack amid the US-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases across the Middle East/West Asia region.
Reuters had reported on Sunday that a projectile hit the oil tanker MKD VYOM. A crew member on board was reported to have lost his life.
“The vessel suffered an explosion and subsequent fire after being struck by a suspected projectile while off the coast of Muscat, Oman on 1 M
arch. It is with great sadness that we confirm one crew member, who was in the engine room at the time of the incident, has died,” the vessel’s management company V. Ships Asia said in a statement on Sunday.
The nationality of the victim was not immediately identified. Now it has been revealed that he was an Indian national.
15 Indians evacuated from another tanker under attack
Another oil tanker, this one with a Palau flag, was also hit on Sunday as Iran issued threats to vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz and reportedly launched multiple attacks.
The tanker named Skylight, carrying 15 Indian nationals, was struck near the Strait of Hormuz, off Oman’s Musandam peninsula.
Four mariners were injured as all 20 crew members, including five Iranians, were safely evacuated and sent for medical attention.
The Indian Embassy said it is closely coordinating with Omani authorities following the incident involving MV Skylight.
“The mission remains in constant touch with Omani authorities who are carrying out search operations for missing crew members following the incident involving MV Skylight. We are also coordinating with officials in Oman for the repatriation of the crew members who have been rescued from MV Skylight and will continue to render all possible assistance in the matter,” the embassy said in a statement posted on social media.