New Delhi: An Indian sailor was killed and four others sustained burn injuries when a wooden dhow carrying general cargo caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, government sources told media on Saturday.
The incident occurred on Friday along the strategic maritime route that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, which is a key artery for global energy trade, as reported by The Pioneer.
The vessel had 18 Indian crew members on board when it burst into flames and subsequently capsized in waters close to the Strait. Despite the challenging conditions, 17 of the 18 crew were rescued safely by a passing vessel operating in the
area, officials said. The survivors were taken aboard that vessel and later shifted to port facilities in Dubai for medical checks and further care.
“In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe,” a government source stated. The injured sailors are being treated at hospitals in Dubai, where doctors have indicated that their condition is stable, though they continue to undergo observation and require follow‑up treatment for their burns.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is being probed.
According to reports, officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the rescued crew members on Friday night and have been extending all possible assistance to them.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions and growing hostilities between Iran and the United States in and around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil‑shipping routes through which a significant share of global crude supply passes.