Hyderabad: An Indian sailor was killed when an India-flagged cargo ship carrying 14 Indians was attacked off the coast of Oman on Monday, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. The identity of those behind the attack remains unknown at this stage.
Sonowal said an unidentified aerial object hit the vessel, MSV Al Jusufi. The sailor who died was identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij, a resident of Gujarat. The Omani Coast Guard evacuated and rescued the 13 other crew members.
In a post on X, the minister condoled the death and said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Embassy in Oman were working with local authorities to help the survivors and to repatriate the mortal remains.
The attack comes amid heightened tension in the Gulf region, with commercial shipping facing repeated threats near key routes. According to government figures released last week, at least 22 Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have been killed since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February 2026. India has barred the deployment of Indian citizens on ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz. (With inputs from media reports)