A family in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria district is awaiting news of a 26-year-old merchant navy sailor who went missing after a drone attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman on October 11.
Veer Bahadur Yadav, a resident of Badka Gaon village under Barhaj tehsil, was among the crew members aboard the Nicaragua-flagged oil tanker MT Petro Dolphin when it was reportedly targeted. The family has appealed to the Centre to intervene and ensure his safe return.
According to officials, the vessel was carrying 11 Indian seafarers when the attack occurred near Sohar port in Oman. Nine crew members have been rescued, while Yadav and another crew member remain missing. Search and rescue operations are underway to locate them.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that the nine rescued Indian crew members were safe. He said the local Coast Guard was conducting search operations and that Indian authorities were coordinating with the relevant agencies to support efforts to locate the missing sailors.
The Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with the concerned authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs has also expressed concern over attacks on commercial vessels in the region, reiterating that the safety of Indian seafarers remains a priority.
Meanwhile, the incident has left Yadav’s family deeply worried. According to Circle Officer Gaurav Singh, the family informed him that Yadav had travelled abroad for employment around five months ago.
Yadav was the sole earning member of his family following the death of his father. His disappearance has heightened concerns among his relatives, who are hoping for his safe return as rescue efforts continue.
