Indian vessel sinks after suspected drone strike off the coast of Oman
A Gujarat-linked cargo vessel, Haji Ali, sank off the northern coast of Oman early Wednesday after a suspected drone, missile strike triggered a fire onboard, officials said. All 14 Indian crew members were rescued safely by Omani authorities, averting a major maritime tragedy amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” said a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The MEA further stressed that civilian shipping routes must remain protected, warning against attacks that endanger innocent crew members or disrupt freedom of navigation and international maritime trade.
The vessel, registered at Salaya Port in Gujarat’s Devbhoomi Dwarka district, was reportedly travelling from Somalia to Sharjah carrying livestock when it came under attack near Limah, close to Oman’s northern coastline, at around 3.30 am.
According to reports, an unidentified explosive object — suspected to be a drone or a missile — struck the ship, causing a massive fire and severe structural damage. The impact destabilised the vessel, which later sank.
The Oman Coast Guard launched an emergency rescue operation and safely evacuated all 14 Indian sailors to Deeba port. As flames spread rapidly across the ship, the crew members acted swiftly, sending out a distress signal before abandoning the vessel in lifeboats.
Authorities have not yet identified who was responsible for the strike, and Omani officials are currently investigating the incident.
Several livestock animals being transported on the vessel were reportedly swept away after the ship sank.
The Indian Sailing Vessels Association also confirmed the safety of the crew and stated that their travel and identity documents had been secured. General Secretary Adam Bhaya urged the Indian Government to facilitate the sailors’ return home at the earliest and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure their safe passage.
The sinking of Haji Ali marks the second incident involving a Gujarat-linked vessel within a week.
Earlier, another Salaya-registered vessel, Al Faiz Noor Suleimani-1, reportedly sank in the Strait of Hormuz after being caught in crossfire linked to the ongoing regional conflict.
The back-to-back maritime incidents have heightened concerns among ship operators and traders in Gujarat’s traditional shipping sector, many of whom depend heavily on Gulf trade routes for cargo transportation.
