Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 3: As many as 23 Indian nationals, including 15 seafarers, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict in West Asia, while five Indians have died in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said one Indian national was killed after a vessel carrying 14 Indian crew members came under attack off the Oman coast on Monday. He thanked the Omani authorities for rescuing the remaining 13 crew members when the ship was attacked on November 2.
Providing details of the casualties in West Asia, Jaiswal said India had earlier reported 22 deaths, including 14 Indian seafarers. With the latest casualty, the toll has risen to 23, of whom 15 were seafarers.
"Yesterday we had an attack on an Indian ship. We have issued a statement; you would have seen the details. On that ship we had 14 Indian crew members. Of them, tragically, unfortunately, one of them has died. We are now in the process of ensuring that the 13 Indian nationals who are there, they are repatriated back to India. We also are working to see how best and when we can also have the mortal remains of the Indian national who has died, those remains to be transported back to India," the spokesperson said.
India is making arrangements to repatriate the 13 rescued Indian nationals at the earliest. Efforts are also underway to bring back the mortal remains of the seafarer who died in the attack.
Jaiswal expressed gratitude to the Omani authorities for their swift response in rescuing the 13 Indians and reiterated India's call for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the region.
"We once again call upon parties that dialogue and diplomacy must be taken forward so that there can be an early return of peace to the region, and that freedom of navigation through international waterways must be restored and must be guaranteed," he said.
On casualties in attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea region, Jaiswal said five Indian nationals had lost their lives, while two others remained missing.
Earlier on Tuesday, India condemned the attack on the commercial vessel MSV AL JUSUFI near Limah in Oman on Monday evening, which claimed the life of an Indian national.
In a statement, the MEA said that of the 14 Indian nationals on board, 13 had been rescued, while one died after sustaining injuries. It conveyed its deepest condolences over the loss of life and said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities for the early repatriation of the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased.
The ministry also expressed concern over the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region and called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution.
"The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest," the MEA said.