The Central government confirmed on Thursday that all Indian seafarers in the Gulf and West Asia are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels or foreign ships carrying Indian crews reported in the last 72 hours. This assurance comes as New Delhi intensifies its monitoring of the regional conflict’s impact. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and maritime stakeholders, is focused on ensuring the welfare of seafarers and the continuity of maritime operations.
Opesh Kumar Sharma, a director in the ministry, noted that the Directorate General of Shipping has received over 11,600 calls and 25,800 emails since activating its support mechanism for seafarers amid the crisis. The government also reassured the public regarding the availability of petroleum products, stating that stocks of petrol, diesel, LPG, and natural gas are sufficient, despite potential disruptions in global energy markets. Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma confirmed that no LPG distributors have reported shortages.
In light of the ongoing tensions, the Ministry of External Affairs has advised against travel to Iran, emphasizing that Indian embassies are providing round-the-clock assistance to citizens in the region. Flight connectivity is gradually improving, with additional services being introduced to various destinations in India. Furthermore, the Cabinet has approved a ₹10,000-crore aviation turbine fuel price stabilization mechanism to protect airlines and passengers from extreme fuel price volatility linked to the regional conflict.
