Indian seafarer killed in drone strike on ship off Oman coast
The death of Gandhar Nahim Ajij brings the total number of Indians killed in the West Asia conflict to 23.
An Indian national was killed on Monday evening when a drone strike hit the MSV Al Jusufi near Limah, Oman, according to reports from The Hindu and The Tribune. The commercial vessel was carrying 14 Indian seafarers at the time of the attack.
Omani naval personnel rescued 13 of the Indian crew members from the ship. The deceased has been identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is currently coordinating with local authorities to repatriate the survivors and the remains of Mr Ajij.
The MEA stated that the targeting of civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping in the region must stop. The ministry called for the restoration of free navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is monitoring developments in the region. He noted that the conflict has caused heavy casualties and disrupted global food, fuel, and financial flows. He urged a cessation of hostilities to restore normalcy.
With this latest fatality, the number of Indians killed in the West Asia conflict since February has risen to 23. Of these, 15 are seafarers. The spokesperson also noted that five Indian nationals have been killed in attacks in the Black Sea region, while two others remain missing.