4,500 Indian Seafarers at Risk Amid Gulf Conflict
The Persian Gulf has become an increasingly dangerous zone for Indian maritime workers, with more than 4,500 Indian seafarers currently working on commercial vessels amidst escalating regional tensions. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that the ongoing conflict has already resulted in the deaths of six Indian nationals, while one person remains missing.
Tragic Casualties and Maritime Attacks
The human cost of the regional instability has been stark. One notable tragedy involved 26-year-old Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. Yadav succumbed to a head injury following an attack on the MV Cape Dao, an Antigua-and-Barbuda-flagged vessel, off the coast of Musandam, Oman. While the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued 19 other Indian crew members during the incident, Yadav's remains are still awaiting repatriation.
Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem R. Mahajan reported during a recent inter-ministerial briefing that six Indian nationals have died and one remains missing. Diplomatic missions across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and the UAE are currently working to locate the missing individual and facilitate the return of the deceased to their families.
Real-Time Monitoring of Vessels
The Indian government is actively tracking the movement of sailors to ensure their safety. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Ministry of Shipping is providing real-time monitoring for 12 specific vessels. These ships, which include six Indian-flagged and six foreign-flagged vessels, are currently carrying 163 sailors and are destined for Indian ports.
Beyond these 12 ships, a large number of personnel remain stationed on various tankers and cargo vessels operating throughout the region, spanning from Musandam to the upper reaches of the Gulf. Local stakeholders and embassies have been instructed to intervene immediately should any vessel require assistance.
Mass Exodus and Regional Statistics
The instability has triggered a significant movement of people out of the region. Since 28 February, more than 300,000 Indians have departed from the Gulf area. This exodus includes approximately 23,000 Indian mariners, with a breakdown of their locations as follows:
- UAE: 12,830
- Saudi Arabia: 3,131
- Qatar: 2,372
- Oman: 1,687
- Bahrain: 276
In Saudi Arabia, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been processing no-objection certificates to repatriate the bodies of two more individuals to the Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. These include 52-year-old Nandlal Pal, who died in detention on 22 September, and 26