Indian Seafarer Killed After MV Cape Dao Attacked Near Strait Of Hormuz
Mumbai: An Indian seafarer was killed after the cargo vessel MV Cape Dao came under attack while sailing towards India near the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified by the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) as Suraj Yadav, a 26-year-old wiper from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh.
According to the FSUI, the vessel was struck by two torpedoes on its port side — one hitting the C-deck accommodation area and another striking the hull near the engine room.
The Indian Embassy in Muscat said it was closely monitoring the situation and was coordinating with Omani authorities to ensure the safety of the crew.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one Indian national in this attack. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” the embassy said, adding that its mission was coordinating with the relevant authorities and was in contact with the family of the deceased.
The vessel was carrying 28 crew members, with the FSUI stating that 20 of them were Indian nationals. The embassy, in an earlier update, referred to 19 Indian nationals while coordinating on the safety of those on board.
The FSUI described Yadav as a civilian seafarer and said he was not a combatant. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the union expressed concern over the safety of Indian seafarers working in conflict-affected waters.
“Assurances have not stopped the killing,” the union said, while highlighting reports of Indian seafarers being killed or going missing in areas including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and Black Sea.
The union has sought several measures following the incident, including the repatriation of Yadav’s remains, compensation for his family, a 24-hour crisis management team under the Prime Minister’s Office and greater protection for Indian crew members working aboard Indian- and foreign-flagged vessels.
It also called for efforts to trace missing seafarers and urged that the proposed BRICS Seafarers’ Emergency Support Network be made operational.
Yadav’s death has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by civilian seafarers working on international shipping routes amid heightened tensions in and around the Gulf region.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
