New Delhi
An Indian sailor was killed and several others were injured when their wooden sailboat caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, people familiar with the matter said Saturday.
Seventeen Indian crew members of the dhow were rescued after the accident that occurred on Friday. The cause of the fire is still being confirmed. The people said that a ship passing through the area rescued the crew members.
A wooden dhow carrying general cargo with 18 Indian crew members on board capsized [on Friday] Close to the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire.
The person said: “An Indian died on board the dhow, while four others suffered burns. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe.”
Officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the Indian nationals rescued from the dhow. The consulate is also in contact with the owner of the dhow and is providing assistance to the sailors.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that is used to transport a large portion of the world’s oil supplies.
Eight Indian nationals have been killed so far in the conflict in West Asia, while dozens have been injured across the region.
Read also:An Indian sailor died when a ship was caught in a crossfire in the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Iran war
In March, an Indian citizen was killed and another injured by debris from a missile interception in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.
An Indian citizen died in an Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait in March.
Another Indian national was killed in missile and drone attacks on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on March 18.
Two other Indians were killed in an attack on an industrial zone in Oman on March 13, and three sailors were killed in attacks on commercial ships in the early days of the conflict. An Indian national was also reported missing.
