New Delhi: The government has said that around 23,000 Indian sailors are currently serving on merchant vessels operating in the Gulf region as authorities closely monitor the evolving maritime situation amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways stated that 677 Indian sailors are on board 24 ships positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply is transported each year. An additional 76 Indian sailors are serving on vessels operating east of the strait, and their movements are also being tracked.
Authorities noted that the number of ships in the area had previously stood at 28. One of them, the oil tanker Jag Prakash, has since moved safely away from the zone of concern. Officials said government agencies, shipping companies and recruitment firms are working closely with Indian diplomatic missions and local authorities to ensure the safety of sailors and to arrange medical support whenever required.
The ministry confirmed that three sailors have died so far in incidents linked to recent attacks on ships in the region, while four others have sustained injuries. One sailor remains unaccounted for. The injured crew members have already been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment.
The developments follow growing instability in the region after the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran, raising fears of a wider conflict.
Among those killed were two Indian sailors, Ashish Kumar and Dalip Singh, who died after the Palau flagged oil tanker Skylight was struck in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month. Another sailor, Dixit Solanki, has been missing since that attack.
A separate strike on the Marshall Islands flagged tanker Safesea Vishnu off the coast of Iraq also resulted in the death of an Indian sailor, while fifteen other Indian crew members were safely evacuated.
Security analysts have indicated that several vessels have been targeted since hostilities began on February 28, highlighting the growing risks for commercial shipping and international maritime crews in the region.
