New Delhi, October 28: A total of 22 Indian nationals, including 14 seafarers, have died in the ongoing West Asia conflict over the past eight months, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government remained deeply concerned about the continuing conflict and was in close contact with the Indian community in the region to safeguard their safety and well-being.
“We are deeply concerned with the ongoing conflict in West Asia. So far, we have lost 22 Indian nationals in the conflict, which includes 14 seafarers,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing.
Indian Seafarers Among Those Killed in Maritime Attacks
Several Indian crew members have been killed, injured or reported missing in incidents involving commercial vessels since the conflict began. Many were working aboard foreign-flagged ships operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
According to reports, the first reported Indian casualty came on March 1, when the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MKD Vyom was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one Indian crew member. An attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula on the same day reportedly killed two Indian sailors.
On May 8, an Indian sailor died after a wooden dhow carrying Indian crew members caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz. On June 9, three Indian seafarers were killed when the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello was struck off the coast of Oman. The deceased were identified as Aditya Sharma, Shivanand Chaurashiya and Patnala Suresh.
In July, an Indian sailor was killed when the Emirati oil tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Eight crew members, including six Indians, were injured. India subsequently summoned Iran’s deputy chief of mission, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, to convey its concerns over the incident.
India Steps Up Safety Measures
The MEA said the government was coordinating with shipping companies, vessel operators and Indian diplomatic missions to monitor the situation and provide assistance to affected crew members and their families.
The Directorate General of Shipping issued a safety advisory on February 28, urging Indian-flagged vessels and Indian seafarers to exercise caution following the escalation of hostilities around Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
The government has also maintained round-the-clock control rooms to coordinate assistance and communication with seafarers and their families. India has repeatedly called for the protection of commercial shipping and the restoration of safe navigation through international waterways.
The latest figures underline the risks faced by Indian maritime workers amid the continuing conflict. The government said it would remain in contact with Indian nationals in the region and continue efforts to ensure their safety.
