Six Indians Dead and One Missing in Gulf Maritime Crisis
A devastating Gulf maritime crisis has claimed the lives of six Indian nationals, while one person remains missing, as security tensions escalate across the waters of the Middle East. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed the casualties following a series of violent incidents spanning Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and the UAE.
Tragedy Aboard the MV Cape Dao
The most recent fatal incident occurred on 23 September, involving the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier, MV Cape Dao. The vessel was struck by two projectiles while navigating near the Musandam coast of Oman, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Among the victims was 26-year-old Suraj Yadav, a wiper from Karmajeet Pur village in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. Yadav, who had been working at sea for only one month after signing on for his first job on 19 August, succumbed to severe head injuries sustained during the attack. While the Royal Navy of Oman successfully rescued 19 other Indian crew members from the vessel, Yadav's family is still waiting for the repatriation of his body to perform final rites.
MEA Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem R. Mahajan stated that the Indian government is currently engaged in efforts to locate the missing individual and ensure the safe return of the deceased.
Widespread Uncertainty for Seafarers
The instability in the region has left a massive number of Indian mariners in precarious positions. According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the situation involves several vessels currently stalled west of the Strait of Hormuz:
- 12 vessels (comprising six Indian-flagged and six foreign-flagged ships) are currently stationary, carrying 163 Indian seafarers.
- 4,500 Indian mariners are currently operating on commercial ships within the region.
- 768 crew members are stranded across 28 Indian-flagged tankers.
- 215 seafarers have already been evacuated from locations in Bahrain and Muscat.
The scale of the crisis is reflected in migration patterns, with more than 300,000 Indians having departed the Gulf and West Asia since 28 February due to the intensifying conflict.
Regional Maritime Demographics
Data from the Directorate General of Shipping highlights the significant number of Indian nationals working in the maritime sector throughout the region. Of the 23,000 Indian mariners operating in these waters, the distribution is as follows:
- UAE: 12,830
- Saudi Arabia: 3,131
- Qatar: 2,372
- Oman: 1,687
- Bahrain: 276
Demands for Increased Security
In response to the rising danger, the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister. The union is calling for the immediate establishment of a 24/7 crisis management cell, enhanced naval security for merchant vessels, and financial compensation for the families of those affected by these attacks.
On the international stage, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar formally condemned the targeting of commercial shipping during the UN General Assembly. While 24 nations have issued calls for restraint to prevent further escalation, no party—including Iran or the United States—has claimed responsibility for the strike on the MV Cape Dao.