Sailor Dies in Drone Attack Off Oman Coast

A 25-year-old sailor from Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district has died after an Indian-flagged cargo vessel, the Al Jusufi, was targeted by a suspected drone attack off the coast of Oman on November 2, 2026. The vessel, registered at Bedi port, was en route from Hamriyah in the UAE to Porbandar, carrying approximately 900 metric tonnes of dates. The attack destroyed the vessel and its cargo, causing an estimated loss of ₹2-3 crore.

Nahim Ajij Gandhar, the deceased sailor, was reportedly at the helm when the drone struck. His family has decided to proceed with his burial in Oman due to anticipated delays in completing repatriation formalities. The remaining 13 crew members were safely rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and are awaiting visa clearance to return to India. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident and assured assistance for the survivors.

The Indian Sailing Vessels Association (ISVA) has raised serious concerns about the safety of Indian traditional sailing vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, especially since February 2026. They reported four attacks, resulting in two sailor deaths so far. The ISVA has appealed to the Iranian Ambassador for intervention and proposed safety measures, including daylight passage and operational communication systems, to protect seafarers and their livelihoods, which support approximately three lakh people.

India has condemned the attack and urged for a diplomatic resolution to the West Asian conflict. The ISVA highlighted that these vessels, often ancestral assets and life savings, are primarily owned by economically vulnerable families from Gujarat's coastal regions. They seek urgent measures, including a mechanism to warn civilian vessels during military engagements, to ensure secure passage through the increasingly volatile region.