New Delhi: An Indian seafarer was killed after an unidentified aerial object struck the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Al Jusufi off Oman’s coast on Monday. Thirteen other Indian crew members were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard following the attack near Limah.
The union minister of ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, confirmed the incident in a post on X on Tuesday. He identified the deceased as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, saying the sailor had succumbed to his injuries.
The vessel was carrying 14 Indian seafarers when it was struck, Sonowal said. He described what hit it as an “unidentified aerial object”, without identifying a weapon or assigning responsibility.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the attack occurred near Limah on Monday evening. The Indian embassy in Muscat was monitoring developments and coordinating with Omani authorities over rescue and repatriation arrangements.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones,” Sonowal wrote. He said the ministry and embassy were working to assist the 13 survivors and arrange their return home, along with the repatriation of Ajij’s mortal remains.
The MEA condemned the attack, expressing concern over repeated incidents involving commercial vessels in the region. It called for immediate de-escalation of the West Asian conflict and progress in ongoing negotiations towards a diplomatic settlement so that peace and stability could return.
“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end,” the ministry said, calling for safe and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways in accordance with international law.
Indian authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the strike or established what the object was. The vessel’s cargo, destination and extent of damage were not immediately clear, and no investigative findings had been announced.
The incident comes amid repeated attacks on merchant vessels around the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, waterways used for energy shipments and other international commerce.
On October 11, a drone strike hit the Nicaragua-flagged MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage off Oman, leaving two Indian seafarers missing and nine rescued, as RNA Media reported earlier. The same day, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, although all 11 Indian crew members were reported safe.
The same day, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire. All 11 Indian seafarers aboard were reported safe, according to the MEA.
The Panama-flagged tanker Louise 1 was struck by explosives attached to its hull on October 29, about 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab. The attack caused an engine-room fire and temporarily disabled the vessel, although its crew were reported safe, as RNA Media reported on Monday.
Responsibility for the Al Jusufi attack remains unconfirmed as Indian and Omani authorities coordinate assistance to the surviving crew.