Indian Seafarer Killed When Dhow Is Struck Off Oman, 13 Crew Rescued

Since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February, at least 22 Indian nationals, 14 of them seafarers, had been killed in the Gulf conflict, according to government figures released last week. The attack on the Indian-flagged dhow MSV Al Jusufi off Oman on Monday, Nov. 2, raises those totals to 23 and 15.

The dead man is Gandhar Nahim Ajij, 26, from Salaya in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the death on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

What happened to the Al Jusufi

The vessel was a motorised sailing vessel carrying 14 Indian crew. Sonowal said it was "struck by an unidentified aerial object" near the Omani coast at about 4 p.m. Monday. The Ministry of External Affairs placed the attack near Limah.

A report from India's Directorate of Maritime Administration says all 14 crew abandoned the vessel in a liferaft after the strike. The Omani Coast Guard rescued 13 of them.

Ajij was being taken to a hospital at Khasab Port in Oman when he died of his injuries, according to that report. The vessel had left Hamriyah Port in the UAE at 10:11 a.m. on Oct. 31, bound for Porbandar in Gujarat.

"While 13 crew members safely evacuated and were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, I am deeply saddened to report that one of our seafarers, Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, tragically succumbed to his injuries," Sonowal said on X.

Who fired is still unstated

Neither Sonowal nor the MEA has said who launched the projectile or what kind it was. Descriptions range from "unidentified aerial object" to "projectile." Neither Iran nor any other party has been named by the Indian government.

The MEA's statement also did not name an attacker. It condemned the strike and said the embassy in Oman is "closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities" on repatriating the 13 survivors and Ajij's body.

New Delhi's message

The ministry used blunt language for a diplomatic statement. "The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply concerning," it said. It repeated its call for "immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution."

It added that "the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end." It also called for free and unimpeded navigation through the region's international waterways "in keeping with international law."

That reference to ongoing negotiations lands in the same week Qatari mediators are carrying suggestions on an Iran deal to Tehran, as covered earlier. India is asking for those talks to produce something. It has no seat at the table.

India's exposure

India is one of the largest suppliers of sailors to global shipping. The shipping ministry counted more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025. Hindustan Times reports the figure is the world's second highest after the Philippines, and that more than 18,000 Indian seafarers are on vessels in West Asia.

The human cost has been steady. Government figures put the Indian death toll at 22 before Monday. Several other Indian seafarers have been listed as missing after attacks on commercial vessels. The conflict has also widened since February to include Yemen-based Houthis.

New Delhi has already acted. Earlier this year it banned the deployment of Indian citizens on any ship navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The ministries have not said whether the Al Jusufi's route from the UAE to Gujarat fell under that restriction.

Attacks on Indian-flagged cargo ships remain relatively rare despite the fighting. Most Indian casualties have come aboard vessels flagged elsewhere. Small wooden dhows like the Al Jusufi carry cargo along the Gulf-to-Gujarat route and have little protection against missiles or drones.

What comes next

The immediate tasks are logistical. The Indian Embassy in Oman is working with Omani authorities to bring the 13 survivors home and return Ajij's remains to Gujarat. The ministries have not given a date.

Attribution is still open. Until the Indian government or Oman says what struck the Al Jusufi and who launched it, the death of a 26-year-old sailor remains one more casualty in a war that India is not fighting and cannot stop.