Muscat: An Indian seafarer was killed after an India-flagged cargo ship came under attack off the coast of Oman amid the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
The multi-purpose support vessel, identified as Al Jusufi, had 14 Indian seafarers on board when it came under attack by an unidentified aerial object while navigating the Omani coast, Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
While thirteen crew members were safely evacuated by the Omani Coast Guard, one sailor, identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, succumbed to his injuries, he posted on X.
“On Nov 2, the Indian MSV AL JUSUFI, carrying 14 Indian seafarers, was struck by an unidentified aerial object while navigating near the coast of Oman. While 13 crew members safely evacuated and were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, I am deeply saddened to report that one of our seafarers, Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, tragically succumbed to his injuries,” Sonowal wrote.
While extending his condolences to the dead sailor’s family, he said the Ministry of Shipping and the Indian Embassy in Oman were in contact with local authorities to ensure immediate assistance for the 13 survivors and facilitate the swift repatriation of both the surviving crew and the remains of the dead seafarer, as reported by NDTV.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the strike and it is not known what kind of projectile struck the vessel.
This is in continuation with a series of attacks on merchant ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz since February 28 this year when hostilities began in the region.
It underscores the continued risk for vessels navigating around the Gulf waters as the global economy grapples with an energy shortfall amid upheaval in the Middle East.
India has repeatedly taken up the issue of such attacks on commercial vessels, highlighting the risks faced by seafarers.
With this death the toll of Indians killed on ships in the Middle East since the start of the water between the US and Iran has risen to 15.