India has lost 22 nationals, including 14 seafarers, in the ongoing West Asia conflict over the past eight months, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday. The government remains in close contact with the Indian community in the region to ensure their safety and provide assistance to affected seafarers and their families.
Several Indian crew members have been killed, injured or reported missing in incidents involving merchant vessels amid escalating hostilities and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade and energy corridor. In September, the MEA reported that 13 of the 14 Indian nationals aboard Panama-flagged vessel MT El Gaia had been rescued following an attack off Oman.
India has called for the protection of commercial shipping and the restoration of safe navigation through international waterways. The Directorate General of Shipping has issued safety advisories, while the government continues to coordinate with shipping companies, vessel operators and diplomatic missions and operates round-the-clock control rooms to assist Indian seafarers.
Separately, Jaiswal said India would work to further strengthen its relations with Israel, highlighting the longstanding cooperation between the two countries across defence, trade, agriculture and technology.