One Indian sailor killed as cargo ship is attacked off Oman coast
The vessel, MV Cape Dao, had 28 crew on board, 20 of them Indian
An Indian seafarer was killed on Wednesday when an Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship headed towards India was attacked off the east coast of Oman, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed.
The seafarer, identified as Suraj Yadav from Uttar Pradesh , died of a head injury, the Directorate of Maritime Administration's report said.
The vessel, MV Cape Dao, had 28 crew on board, 20 of them Indian.
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Yadav is the 11th Indian seafarer killed in the Strait of Hormuz in attacks on four Indian ships and 60 foreign-flagged vessels since the West Asia crisis broke out. Twelve were injured during that time.
India condemned the attack and described the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in West Asia as "deeply worrisome".
"Of the 20 Indian seafarers on board, 19 have been rescued, while one Indian national tragically lost his life," the MEA said in a statement.
The Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities for early repatriation of the Indian seafarers.
The MEA said the continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are "deeply worrisome" and reiterated the call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and enable early return of peace to the region.
New Delhi said "the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region must be restored at the earliest."
