Approximately 50 Indian seafarers are currently stranded at the Port of Khorramshahr in southwestern Iran, urgently appealing for repatriation due to ongoing missile attacks. In videos shared with ETV Bharat, the seafarers are seen fleeing for safety as bombs are dropped nearby. One seafarer expressed their dire situation, emphasizing the daily terror they face and pleading for government assistance.
The General Secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), Manoj Yadav, noted that many of the stranded seafarers work on foreign vessels and rely on agents based in Dubai for employment. However, the Indian government lacks crucial information such as visa details and vessel names, complicating efforts for their return. Some seafarers do not have valid visas for Iran, and their agents have been unresponsive in facilitating their repatriation.
The FSUI has reached out to the Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, providing details of 11 vessels with Indian crew members, while highlighting that nearly 50 vessels are currently in the area, facing regular missile attacks. The seafarers report delays in salary payments and difficulties in contacting their families, further exacerbating their distress. They are running low on essential supplies, including drinking water, and are living in constant fear for their lives.
