Indian captain, 33 crew stranded near Hormuz, families appeal government for help
India Today
As missiles and drones are seen flying over the region, the captain says they are awaiting a possible escort from the Indian Navy, while anxious family members in Mumbai appeal for the government's help to bring them home safely.
The ongoing tensions amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict are now directly affecting Indian homes, with a tanker captain and his crew stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. Captain Virendra Vishwakarma, a resident of Dahisar East in Mumbai, has been stuck near the strategic waterway since March 2 along with 33 crew members aboard an LPG tanker.
Speaking from the vessel, Vishwakarma said the crew is witnessing missile and drone activity in the skies almost daily and hopes the Indian Navy will escort the tanker safely back to India. “We see missiles and drones flying overhead almost every day and hear sirens constantly. We are worried that anything could happen at any time,” he said.
The tanker, carrying enough liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to fill about 3.6 million domestic cylinders, is currently stranded at Mina Saqr Port, a deep-water seaport in Ras Al Khaimah, part of the United Arab Emirates.
The ship had been loaded at Mina Al Ahmadi Port and was headed to Deendayal Port, previously known as Kandla Port, in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Vishwakarma said the crew currently has food supplies sufficient for around 60 days, and the ship’s operator, GESCO, is coordinating with authorities.
“Our company is helping us and has assured us it is in touch with the navy and the relevant ministries to arrange for our safe return,” he said.
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As missiles and drones are seen flying over the region, the captain says they are awaiting a possible escort from the Indian Navy, while anxious family members in Mumbai appeal for the government's help to bring them home safely.
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