New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): A 26-year-old Indian seafarer was killed after a commercial vessel carrying Indian crew members came under a missile attack off the coast of Oman on Wednesday. The Indian government has begun efforts to bring the surviving crew members home and repatriate the deceased seafarer’s body.
The deceased has been identified as Suraj Yadav from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. He suffered fatal head injuries when the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was struck off Oman’s east coast.
The remaining 19 Indian seafarers were rescued by the Royal Navy of Oman and brought ashore.
Government Begins Efforts To Bring Indian Crew Home
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack and said the Indian Embassy in Oman was coordinating with local authorities for the early repatriation of the Indian seafarers.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said maritime authorities had been instructed to coordinate with the Omani authorities and the vessel’s management company to facilitate the immediate and safe return of the surviving crew.
The minister also said the government would ensure that Yadav’s mortal remains were brought back to India with dignity and that necessary assistance was provided to his family.
Merchant Vessel Was Carrying Indian Seafarers
According to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), the vessel had 28 crew members and was travelling from Mina Saqr towards India through the Oman route when it was attacked.
The union said the vessel was hit twice on its port side, with one impact reported in the engine room and another on the C-Deck accommodation area.
Yadav was working as a wiper, a civilian role aboard the merchant vessel. The union stressed that he was a civilian seafarer and not a combatant.
Seafarers’ Union Seeks Stronger Protection
Following the incident, FSUI general secretary Manoj Yadav wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking stronger protection for Indian seafarers operating in high-risk maritime areas.
The union proposed the creation of a permanent National Crisis Management Team involving the PMO, Ministry of External Affairs, Defence and Navy, Ministry of Shipping, Directorate General of Shipping and seafarers’ unions.
It also called for naval presence, escort and rapid-response mechanisms for Indian crews travelling through vulnerable maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Black Sea.
The union additionally sought time-bound compensation for Yadav’s family, assistance in tracing seafarers reported missing in conflict zones and the early implementation of a proposed Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network at the BRICS level.
India Calls For End To Attacks On Commercial Shipping
The MEA said continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region were deeply concerning and reiterated India’s position that tensions should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy.
The ministry stressed that commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure and seafarers should not be targeted and called for the restoration of safe and unrestricted navigation and commerce through international waterways.
While the 19 surviving Indian crew members are being brought to safety, efforts are also underway to return Suraj Yadav’s remains to his family in Deoria.
