Muscat : A major maritime rescue operation was launched off the coast of Oman on Sunday after a dhow carrying 14 Indian nationals began sinking, sources said. The incident occurred on the morning of June 14, around 80 nautical miles east of Ras Al Hadd.
According to sources, as soon as information about the distress situation was received, the US Navy alerted local maritime authorities to initiate an emergency response. Given the seriousness of the situation, a US Navy P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft was deployed, which reached the area, dropped a life raft, and monitored the evacuation of those on board.
A nearby commercial vessel, MV Jabal Ali 9, a St Kitts and Nevis-flagged ship, was also coordinated for assistance. Through this combined effort, the crew members managed to reach the life raft after the dhow reportedly began sinking.
Officials said the exact cause of the sudden sinking of the vessel is not yet known and is currently under investigation.
The Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed the incident, stating that it had received information regarding the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel “Virat 1,” which had 14 Indian crew members on board. The embassy added that search and rescue operations are being coordinated with Omani authorities and nearby vessels in the area.
The incident took place in a maritime corridor that has gained strategic significance in recent times due to rising tensions in the Middle East and the continuing instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.
Amid heightened regional sensitivities, the swift coordinated rescue operation helped avert a major tragedy, though investigations into the cause of the sinking are still underway.