Three Indian seafarers have tragically lost their lives, one is missing, and four others have sustained injuries in recent maritime incidents involving foreign-flagged vessels amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, a senior official from the Shipping Ministry, provided this information during a press briefing on Thursday. He noted that a total of 78 Indian seafarers were aboard the affected vessels at the time of the incidents.
Sinha elaborated that out of the 78 seafarers, 70 managed to escape unharmed, while four were injured but are currently in stable condition. Unfortunately, the incidents have resulted in three fatalities and one seafarer remains unaccounted for. The government is actively monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of Indian crew members operating in the region.
Despite the heightened maritime risks due to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, the number of Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf has remained stable at 28. Sinha confirmed that 24 of these vessels are positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz, housing 677 Indian seafarers, while the remaining four vessels, with 101 Indian crew members, are located to the east of the strait. The government is committed to safeguarding the well-being of these seafarers.
