Indian seafarer killed in attack on cargo vessel near Oman

An Indian seafarer was killed on 2 November when an unidentified aerial object struck the India-flagged mechanised sailing vessel MSV Al Jusufi near Limah, Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz. Thirteen other Indian crew members were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the death on 3 November and identified the sailor as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel was hit by an “unidentified aerial object.” The ship carried 14 Indian nationals and 950 metric tonnes of dates. It had left Hamriyah port in the UAE on 31 October bound for Porbandar. Ajij is the fifteenth Indian seafarer killed at sea since the Iran conflict intensified earlier in 2026.

Official response

The MEA condemned the attack and called for immediate de-escalation and a diplomatic solution in West Asia. It stated that the Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating with Omani authorities for the repatriation of the 13 survivors and the return of Ajij’s remains. Sonowal posted on X expressing condolences to the family.

The incident occurred on the same day US forces carried out limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island. Iranian officials have said commercial traffic through Hormuz remains restricted until Washington meets a set of conditions. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike on Al Jusufi. Indian officials have not released radar or satellite data that would identify the projectile.

Shipping context

Commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen sharply. IMF PortWatch data showed only two transits on 25 October against a pre-crisis average of about 85 per day. Dozens of vessels have been holding position in the Gulf and nearby waters. Attacks on merchant ships have increased in recent weeks. The Al Jusufi incident is the latest involving an Indian-flagged vessel.

India has called for the restoration of unimpeded navigation under international law. The MEA statement said the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must end. No further details on the precise location of the strike or the type of munition have been made public. The Omani Coast Guard completed the rescue; the 13 survivors are expected to return to India once formalities are complete.

Family and next steps

Ajij was 21 and from Porbandar in Gujarat. Local reports describe him as a crew member on the mechanised sailing vessel. The MEA has not released a full passenger or cargo manifest beyond the 14 Indian nationals and the date shipment. Repatriation of the remains is being arranged through the embassy in Muscat.

The attack adds one more name to the list of Indian seafarers killed since the conflict began. It also illustrates the continuing risk to commercial traffic near the Strait even on days when major military exchanges are described as limited. The verified facts remain the death of Gandhar Nahim Ajij, the rescue of 13 crew, the vessel’s route from Hamriyah to Porbandar, and the MEA’s call for de-escalation.