Torpedo attack on cargo ship off Oman kills one Indian sailor, 19 rescued
A torpedo attack on the cargo ship MV Cape Dao off Oman's coast killed one Indian sailor and injured another, while 19 crew were rescued safely
Tension in the seas around the Middle East has been rising by the day. The merchant ship MV Cape Dao, sailing toward India along an international sea route near Oman's eastern coast, came under a sudden and powerful attack. The ship had a total of 20 Indian sailors on board. On receiving news of the attack, Oman's Royal Navy immediately launched a rescue operation and brought 19 Indian sailors out safely. However, one Indian sailor lost his life in the incident, while another crew member suffered minor injuries.
India's Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the maritime attack. The ministry said this growing series of attacks targeting innocent sailors, civilian infrastructure and merchant ships in international waterways is a matter of serious concern. The ministry expressed deep condolences to the family of the sailor who died. The Indian embassy in Muscat is in continuous contact with the local administration in Oman, and efforts are under way to bring back all remaining Indian citizens safely and as soon as possible.
The sailor who died in the attack has been identified as Suraj Yadav, aged 21, from Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh. He was working on the ship as a wiper. According to the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI), Suraj suffered a severe head injury during the blast on the ship, which caused his death on the spot.
News of Suraj Yadav's death has plunged his village and family into mourning. The Indian embassy in Muscat is carrying out legal and administrative procedures, with the help of Omani authorities, to send Suraj's body back to his family in India as soon as possible. The other injured Indian sailor is being treated at a local medical centre and is said to be in stable condition.
According to an initial FSUI report, MV Cape Dao was struck in continuous succession by two torpedoes. The first torpedo hit the accommodation area of the C-Deck on the ship's left side, while shortly after, the second torpedo struck the main engine room. This double attack caused major panic on board and heavily damaged the ship's main structure.
Immediately after the attack, the ship's emergency alert system was triggered. Oman's Royal Navy reached the site without delay and completed the operation to evacuate the ship's crew under very difficult conditions. The rescue team brought 19 Indian crew members to safety.
Following the incident off Oman's coast, India's Ministry of External Affairs drew the international community's attention to this growing threat. In an official statement, the ministry said: "The targeting of merchant ships in this manner across this entire maritime region is a matter of great concern. We urge all parties concerned to de-escalate tensions and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy."
India has said clearly that free, unimpeded and safe trade through international sea routes is essential for the global economy. These deadly attacks on civilian sailors and merchant ships must stop immediately. The Indian embassy in Muscat is monitoring the entire situation closely round the clock.
