Indian seafarer killed, 13 rescued after vessel hit by unidentified object near Oman
An Indian seafarer was killed after an Indian-flagged vessel with 14 crew members on board was hit by an unidentified aerial object near the coast of Oman on November 2, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said.
The deceased was identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat. The remaining 13 crew members were safely evacuated and rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, Sonowal said in a post on X.
The vessel, MSV AL JUSUFI, was navigating near the Omani coast when it was struck. The object has not been identified. There was no immediate information on its origin or on who may have launched it. The minister’s statement did not specify the exact location of the vessel at the time of the incident, or whether the vessel was damaged.
“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,” the minister said.
Sonowal offered condolences to the family of the deceased. He said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Indian Embassy in Oman were in touch with local authorities.
According to the minister, authorities are working to provide immediate assistance to the 13 survivors and to facilitate the repatriation of the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased.
The incident took place in waters near Oman, a key maritime route at the mouth of the Gulf. Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers operate in the region. The Omani Coast Guard led the rescue operation, and the Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating with local authorities.
The Indian government has not released further details about the object or the circumstances of the strike. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Oman have not issued separate statements. More information is awaited.
The term “unidentified aerial object” is used when authorities have not determined what the object is. It does not by itself indicate the involvement of any state or non-state actor. In this case, officials have not linked the strike to any specific group or country.
The safety of Indian seafarers abroad is a sensitive issue. India has a large seafaring community, and many Indian crew members work on vessels operating in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. The government has in the past highlighted its efforts to assist crew members in distress in different parts of the world. In this case, the immediate focus has been on rescuing the survivors and bringing home the mortal remains of the deceased.
Maritime security in the Gulf and surrounding waters has been a concern for commercial shipping. However, the origin of the object in this incident is not known. The investigation is continuing.
