New Delhi, September 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said search and rescue operations were continuing to locate an Indian seafarer who went missing after a commercial vessel carrying 14 Indian nationals was attacked off the coast of Oman on Sunday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said 13 of the 14 Indian seafarers aboard the Panama-flagged vessel had been rescued, while one remained missing.
“Regarding the missing seafarer, this attack happened off the coast of Oman. It was a Panama flagship on which we had 14 Indian nationals or seafarers, of whom 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for rescuing our nationals. One Indian national is missing; the seafarer was on board. Search and rescue operations continue with the help of the Omani authorities,” Jaiswal said during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
He said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities to support the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Jaiswal also stressed that India considers attacks targeting commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region unacceptable.
“We also urge that free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international and national waterways in the region be restored at the earliest,” he said.
The MEA had on Sunday condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the Omani coast and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions.
“We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to the region,” the ministry had said.
The ministry also reiterated its call for the restoration of free and safe navigation and the uninterrupted flow of commerce through international waterways in the region.
Meanwhile, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said a super oil tanker attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through what it described as a “forbidden” route south of the waterway exploded and caught fire after hitting naval mines.
According to a statement carried by the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News, efforts to contain the fire aboard the tanker, identified as El Gaia, were unsuccessful and the vessel was engulfed in flames.
The IRGC said warnings had been issued about the risks of using the “illegal” route and maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed and under the control of Iranian naval forces.
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