Mumbai, 12 th March 2026 ( TGN ) : The Indian Embassy in Iraq successfully rescued 15 Indian crew members after an attack on an oil tanker near the Basra coast on 11 March. The embassy is in constant contact with its citizens and the local administration, and the rescued Indians have been moved to a safe location.
The situation in West Asia remains fragile due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Amid these tensions, the crude oil tanker “Seaface Vishnu”, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and reportedly owned by a U.S. company, was attacked near Basra in Iraq. According to media reports, the attack was carried out by an Iranian suicide boat. Unfortunately, one Indian crew member lost his life in the incident.
Due to the heightened tensions in the region, officials at the Indian Embassy in Baghdad were already on alert and closely monitoring developments in the area. As soon as the incident was reported, the embassy immediately arranged for the remaining 15 Indian crew members to be moved to a safe location.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Indian Embassy said, “On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life. The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place. Embassy of India Baghdad is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance. Embassy extends its deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased crew member.”
Meanwhile, India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has, as a precautionary measure, declared the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman as high-risk areas. As part of security protocols, all Indian-flagged vessels have been instructed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, increase position reporting, and test their Ship Security Alert Systems.
In a separate statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Nearly 10 million Indians live across GCC countries. The welfare of our diaspora is our highest priority. The Prime Minister has spoken with leaders of several countries in the region, including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Israel. The External Affairs Minister is also in regular contact with his counterparts in these countries as well as Iran.”
