Oman
Indian cargo vessel sinks off Oman after suspected drone strike; Delhi calls attack ‘unacceptable’
An Indian-flagged cargo vessel from Gujarat sank off the coast of Oman after being struck by a suspected drone or missile, prompting a strong response from the Government of India and raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the Gulf region.
All 14 Indian crew members aboard the vessel were rescued safely by Omani authorities.
The vessel, Haji Ali, was registered at Salaya Port in Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat and was transporting livestock from Berbera in Somalia to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
According to reports, the ship was sailing near Limah on Oman’s northern coast at around 3:30 am on Wednesday when it was hit by an unidentified explosive object.
The impact caused a fire on board and destabilised the vessel, which later sank.
Crew escaped in lifeboats
As flames spread, the 14-member crew, consisting of one tandel and 13 sailors, issued a distress signal and abandoned the ship in lifeboats.
The Oman Coast Guard launched a rescue operation and brought all crew members safely to Deeba port.
Ship owner Sultan Ahmed Sanghar confirmed that every crew member had been rescued.
India condemns attack
The Ministry of External Affairs described the strike as unacceptable.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off Oman was deplorable and condemned the continued targeting of commercial shipping and civilian mariners.
The ministry confirmed that all Indian nationals aboard were safe and thanked Omani authorities for carrying out the rescue operation.
India also reiterated that civilian vessels should not be targeted and stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and maritime trade.
Investigation underway
Omani authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
Neither India nor Oman has identified the group responsible for the strike.
The Indian Sailing Vessels Association said all crew members were safe and their travel and identity documents had been secured.
General Secretary Adam Bhaya urged the Indian government to arrange the sailors’ early return to India.
Second Gujarat-linked vessel lost in a week
The sinking of Haji Ali is the second reported incident involving a Gujarat-linked vessel in less than a week.
Another vessel registered in Salaya, Al Faiz Noor Suleimani-1, reportedly sank in the Strait of Hormuz after being caught in regional crossfire linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
The back-to-back incidents have alarmed ship owners and traders in Gujarat, many of whom depend on Gulf shipping routes for commercial operations.
Growing risks in Gulf shipping lanes
The latest incident underscores the increasing risks faced by merchant vessels operating through the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea.
These waterways remain among the busiest and most strategically significant shipping corridors in the world, carrying a substantial share of global energy supplies and commercial cargo.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
