Families Accuse Captain as Indian Sailors Go Missing in Drone Strike
The families of two young Indian seafarers are demanding accountability, accusing the captain of the MT Petro Dolphin of negligence after a drone strike left two men missing near Oman.
Bir Bahadur Yadav, 26, and Amit Singh, 20, disappeared during an attack on the Nicaragua-flagged vessel on October 11 near Sohar Port. While nine other Indian crew members and one Bangladeshi national were successfully rescued, the two men—both of whom were in their first major sailing roles—remain unaccounted for.
Allegations of Abandonment and Equipment Failure
Relatives of the missing sailors have raised serious concerns regarding the vessel's emergency response. They allege that the ship's captain ordered an evacuation without conducting a proper headcount or performing a thorough search to ensure all crew members were safe.
Ravindra Singh, a merchant navy second officer and the uncle of Amit Singh, has petitioned the Directorate General of Shipping for a full investigation. He claims that the vessel's technical failures significantly hindered rescue efforts, stating that the generators, including the emergency unit, were non-functional during the incident.
The emotional distress is palpable among the families. Mantu Yadav, the brother of Bir Bahadur Yadav, noted that Bir had expressed significant fear regarding the security situation on the ship as early as October 10.
Search and Rescue Operations
The Indian Embassy in Muscat is currently working alongside Omani authorities and the shipping company to continue search-and-rescue efforts. Plans are also in place to board the vessel to facilitate a formal investigation into the circumstances of the strike.
In the wake of the incident, the shipping company has made several commitments, including:
- Clearing all pending salaries for the crew members.
- Repatriating the survivors to their home countries.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) has also called for immediate updates on the status of the missing men and has demanded increased protections for seafarers operating in volatile waters.
Escalating Regional Tensions
The strike on the MT Petro Dolphin occurs amidst a period of heightened instability in the region. On October 10, a Houthi-linked strike on King Khalid International Airport resulted in the death of one Indian national, Mohammed Yousef Ali, and left 11 others injured.
The ongoing conflict has had a profound impact on the Indian community in the region. Since late February, more than 300,000 Indians have returned from the area due to the escalating security risks. While the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that all Indian crew members were safe following a separate strike on the MT Valthera, the disappearance of Yadav and Singh has added to the growing concerns over maritime security.