A wooden dhow carrying general cargo and 18 Indian crew members caught fire and capsized near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a government source told ANI. One Indian crew member died and four others suffered burn injuries in the incident.
Crew members were rescued by a passing vessel after the dhow overturned. The four injured were taken to hospitals in Dubai and are reported to be in stable condition while receiving treatment. Indian consular officials met the rescued nationals soon after the incident, and the consulate is in contact with the dhow owner and providing assistance, the source said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Separately, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing that 11 Indian ships have already exited the Strait of Hormuz, while 13 remain in the Persian Gulf. Responding to reports that Iranian vessels might be routing through Pakistani and Indian territorial waters to avoid a US blockade, Jaiswal noted that ships operating in international waters do not require Indian permission, but entry into Indian territorial waters is a technical matter for the Ministry of Shipping or other technical authorities.
Jaiswal added that Indian diplomatic engagement with Iranian authorities has achieved forward movement and that officials continue to coordinate so the remaining Indian ships can safely transit the strait and reach their destinations. (Source: ANI)
