Indian sailor killed as bulk carrier struck by torpedoes near Strait of Hormuz
An Indian seafarer was killed on Wednesday after the Antigua and Barbuda–flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was struck by torpedoes off Oman’s coast near the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest deadly attack on commercial shipping in the region.
What happened
- The MV Cape Dao was transiting toward India when it was attacked about 4.6 km off Musandam, an Omani exclave that borders the UAE.
- Maritime sources and Indian sailors’ unions say the vessel was hit by two torpedoes, one striking the port-side crew accommodation (C-deck) and the other the port-side hull near the engine room, causing a fire.
- Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said the attack sparked an engine-room fire and led to the death of one crew member; 27 others were evacuated and rescued by an Omani warship.
Victim identified
- The deceased sailor has been identified as Suraj Yadav, a 26-year-old wiper from Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI).
- Union reports say Yadav suffered a serious head injury in the strike and later died; another Indian crew member reportedly sustained minor injuries.
- The Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed one Indian national was killed and said 19 Indians were among the 28 crew on board.
Official reactions
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned “ongoing attacks” in the strategic waterway and said, “One Indian national tragically lost his life,” without detailing the weapon used.
- The Indian embassy said it is coordinating with Omani authorities and the ship’s recruitment and placement agency, and is in touch with the deceased sailor’s family.
- The FSUI demanded “immediate accountability, safe passage, and justice” for Yadav and warned that civilian seafarers are at growing risk around the Strait of Hormuz.
Context: attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil and cargo traffic, and has seen repeated incidents targeting merchant vessels in recent months. While no group has publicly claimed responsibility for this specific attack, Indian and Omani statements framed it as part of a pattern of assaults on ships passing through the area.