NEW DELHI: Around three dozen Indian and other India-bound ships are currently in the West and East of the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, with 25 of them in the Hormuz region. Agencies have identified the evacuation of 13 of these vessels, which include eight carrying fertilisers, crucial for ongoing Kharif crops, and three with energy products.17 India-flagged vessels along with foreign-flagged ships are bound for India, with Indians seafarers among both crews.Officials said that since the war broke out in West Asia, 67 ships of Indian interest have crossed the conflict-hit sea channel and 4,052 stranded Indian seafarers have returned to India safely. Chairing a review meeting with senior officials, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Indian seafarers are key global workers, and the Modi government stands firmly with them and their families. The safety of our maritime heroes remains our paramount priority.”He added that maritime regulator DGMA is operating round-the-clock to monitor distress alerts and coordinate rescue efforts. “During the ongoing crisis, 4,052 stranded Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated. A total of 16,448 calls and 40,594 emails have been handled by our emergency response. DGMA is providing repatriation support, medical assistance, counselling and continuous engagement with affected families,” Sonowal said, adding financial assistance of Rs10 lakh is being provided to the next of kin of the deceased.
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As per reports, including from seafarers safety organisations, there have been over four incidents involving Indian vessels while another 33 incidents involved foreign-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf (west of Strait of Hormuz) and another 22 in Black Sea.Considering that the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are currently high-risk maritime zones, the government has cautioned both ships and shipping lines. While transiting vessels through these regions.
