NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed on Sunday that two Indian nationals are missing and nine others have been successfully rescued following a drone strike on a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman.
The incident took place on October 11 when the tanker MT Petro Dolphin, carrying 11 Indian seafarers onboard, was subjected to a hostile drone attack at the Sohar Anchorage.
Sharing details of the incident on social media platform X, Minister Sonowal stated, "While nine of our Indian crew members have been successfully rescued and are safe, two Indian nationals currently remain missing."
He added that search-and-rescue operations are actively underway, being spearheaded by the local Coast Guard. Indian diplomatic missions and relevant authorities are continuously coordinating with regional bodies to ensure that every possible action is taken to safely locate and rescue the unaccounted personnel.
The Embassy is closely tracking developments regarding the Nicaragua-flagged vessel and remains in constant touch with local authorities to extend necessary support to the affected crew.
This maritime security incident adds to a growing series of attacks targeting commercial shipping vessels and civilian seafarers in key Gulf trade routes. Regional security concerns have escalated recently, prompting severe anxiety among international shipping lines and governments over the safety of commercial crews transiting through vital Middle Eastern checkpoints. Indian authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation closely while prioritizing the safety and repatriation of affected nationals.
