Indian cargo vessel ‘Haji Ali’ sinks off Oman after suspected drone strike; all 14 Indian crew rescued
PTC Web Desk: An Indian cargo vessel, Haji Ali, registered in Gujarat, sank off the coast of Oman after being hit by a suspected drone strike, though all 14 Indian crew members were rescued safely by Omani authorities. The incident has once again raised serious concerns over maritime safety in the region amid growing tensions surrounding the Iran-US conflict near the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship, registered at Salaya Port in Gujarat’s Devbhoomi Dwarka district, was travelling from Somalia to Sharjah with a consignment of livestock on board.
According to reports, the vessel was near Limah along Oman’s northern coastline around 3.30 am on Wednesday when an unidentified explosive object, believed to be either a drone or missile, struck the ship. The blast reportedly sparked a fire, causing the vessel to tilt before eventually going under.
As the fire spread rapidly, the crew, comprising one tandel and 13 sailors, immediately issued a distress call and escaped using lifeboats.
Following the alert, the Oman Coast Guard launched a rescue mission and safely brought all crew members to Deeba port. Ship owner Sultan Ahmed Sanghar later confirmed that every person on board had survived the incident.
Authorities are yet to determine who was behind the attack. Reacting strongly, the Ministry of External Affairs termed the strike “unacceptable”.
“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” the ministry said.
- With inputs from agencies
