One Indian seafarer was killed and 13 others rescued after an India-flagged cargo vessel was hit by an unidentified aerial object near the coast of Oman on Monday, the Government confirmed on Tuesday.
The vessel, MSV Al Jusufi, was navigating near Limah when it came under attack on the evening of November 2. It was carrying a crew of 14 Indian nationals and was sailing from the UAE’s Al Hamriya Port to Porbandar in Gujarat. The ship is linked to Salaya in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district.
The seafarer who died has been identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij, a Gujarat resident. He succumbed to injuries sustained in the strike. According to details available with authorities, the crew abandoned the vessel in a liferaft after it was hit. Ajij was being taken to a hospital at Khasab Port when he died. The Omani Coast Guard safely evacuated and rescued the remaining 13 crew members.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident in a statement. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss and conveyed condolences to the family of the deceased.
He said the Ministry and the Indian Embassy in Oman are in contact with local authorities to provide immediate assistance to the survivors and to facilitate the early return of both the rescued crew and the mortal remains of the deceased seafarer.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a formal statement condemning the attack on the commercial vessel. It confirmed that of the 14 Indian nationals on board, 13 had been rescued while one had lost his life after sustaining injuries. The MEA expressed its deepest condolences and said the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities for the repatriation of the survivors and the remains of the deceased.
In the same statement, the Ministry described the ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the region as deeply concerning. It reiterated its call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations toward a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region. It further stated that the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must end, and that free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest.
The incident adds to the list of Indian nationals affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has repeatedly disrupted shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz. Indian officials continue to coordinate assistance for those impacted and are working to bring the survivors and the deceased seafarer’s remains back to India.