Indian Cargo Ship Hit Off Oman: MEA Slams ‘Unacceptable’ Strike
1 min read
In a tense escalation at sea, an Indian-flagged freighter from Gujarat sank after a mysterious explosion off Oman’s coast, prompting fierce condemnation from New Delhi. The MEA’s Thursday briefing painted a picture of deliberate sabotage against innocent commerce.
MSV Haji Ali, skippered by a 14-strong Indian team and owned by Sultan Ahmed Ansari of Dwarka, was navigating Omani waters toward Sharjah from Berbera. At dawn on May 13, catastrophe hit: a projectile-like object slammed into the vessel around 3:30 AM, sparking inferno that doomed the ship.
Crew members recounted the harrowing moments—hearing a deafening boom, watching fire consume the decks, then scrambling into lifeboats. Oman’s swift coastal patrol plucked them from peril, ensuring no lives lost. India profusely thanked its Omani partners for the rescue.
The MEA statement minced no words: ‘We denounce this assault in the strongest terms. Commercial vessels and ordinary seafarers must not be preyed upon. All must avoid imperiling navigation and trade freedoms.’
With the Strait of Hormuz nearby amid Iran hostilities, this strike amplifies fears of shadowed threats to shipping. Analysts speculate drone involvement, urging international vigilance. India’s merchant fleet, backbone of its economy, now faces renewed scrutiny for protection amid geopolitical storms.
