139 Indian Sailors Trapped in Strait of Hormuz, 11 Deaths Confirmed
The escalating conflict in West Asia has taken a heavy toll on the maritime community, with 139 Indian sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz and 11 deaths officially confirmed. During the Sagar Manthan Samvad held in New Delhi, Vijay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, provided a grim update on the safety of Indian seafarers caught in the crossfire of the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.
Escalating Maritime Attacks
Since the conflict intensified on February 28, 2026, commercial vessels navigating the Persian Gulf have become frequent targets of missile attacks. The Ministry's briefing revealed a pattern of increasing danger for those at sea:
- Four attacks have been recorded specifically on Indian-flagged vessels.
- 74 incidents have involved foreign-flagged ships that were carrying Indian crew members.
- A Panama-flagged ship was recently struck, resulting in injuries to 11 Indian crew members.
In a separate incident in the Black Sea, a Turkish-owned cargo ship was hit by a Russian drone, causing a fire and injuring at least one Indian sailor.
Tracking and Evacuation Efforts
Despite the high-risk environment, the Indian government has managed to successfully evacuate between 4,200 and 4,292 Indian sailors. Currently, the situation remains critical as two Indian-flagged vessels and six ships bound for India remain stuck within the Strait of Hormuz. While the Ministry has not disclosed the specific identities or home states of the 139 trapped sailors, it has implemented a live tracking system to manage the crisis.
This advanced monitoring system allows authorities to track:
- Real-time ship locations and travel routes.
- Total crew counts and individual threat assessments.
- The availability of vital supplies, including food, fuel, and medicine.
Aviation Disruptions in the UAE
The regional instability is not limited to the seas; it has also heavily impacted air travel across the Gulf. On October 8 and 9, major hubs including Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi experienced significant flight cancellations and delays.
Major carriers have been forced to adjust their schedules:
- Emirates cancelled three flights to Riyadh.
- Etihad cancelled eight services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
- Disruptions were also reported on routes connecting to Kuwait, Dammam, and Bahrain.
India's Growing Role in Global Shipping
The safety of these sailors is a matter of significant national importance. India has rapidly become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, with the number of Indian sailors growing from 1.27 lakh to 3.23 lakh over the last 12 years. Currently, Indian maritime workers represent more than 12 percent of the global workforce, and the government aims to increase this share to 20 percent by 2030.
Welfare and Compensation Concerns
While the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society provides an ex-gratia payment of 10 lakh rupees for deaths occurring in conflict zones, the distribution of these funds has faced scrutiny. Reports indicate that out of 16 recorded deaths in various conflicts this year, only five cases had received the compensation at the time of the latest briefing.