'It Feels Like a Second Birth': Indian Seafarers Survive Missile Attack, Return Home With Nothing

Mumbai: Eight Indian seafarers who survived the March 1 missile attack on oil tanker Sky Light near Oman's Khasab port returned to Mumbai on March 18, carrying nothing but the clothes they jumped into the sea with. The attack, amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, killed their captain and left one crew member still missing.

The Attack

At approximately 7:05 AM, a missile struck the vessel. "There was a sudden impact, the ship shook and there was a complete blackout. Smoke and fire spread quickly. There was no clear escape route, so we had to jump into the ocean," recalled one survivor. Many couldn't swim — life jackets saved them before an Omani army boat arrived within minutes.

Captain Ashish Kumar from Bihar was killed. Dalip Singh from Rajasthan remains missing.

Stranded and Stripped of Everything

The crew — from West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, mostly in their early 20s on their first voyage — lost passports, identity documents, phones, gold items and cash in the fire. They spent over a week stranded in Oman before receiving emergency outpasses.

"We are still wearing the same clothes we jumped into the sea with. We have nothing — not even a toothbrush or soap," one survivor said.

Documentation and Compensation Crisis

After arriving in Mumbai, the seafarers face bureaucratic hurdles. Only one can access his bank account — he's covering expenses for all eight. The shipping company credited salaries but compensation for lost valuables remains uncertain without proof.

Leaving the Sea Forever

"What is the point of such a job when there is no guarantee of life? This feels like a second birth. We just want to go back to our villages, live with our families, earn less but be content," one said. The trauma lingers: "Every time we close our eyes, the visuals come back."

Analysis

This incident highlights the devastating human cost of the West Asia conflict on Indian maritime workers. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, thousands of Indian seafarers face heightened danger. The government must prioritize rapid rehabilitation, document reconstruction, and fair compensation.

Sources: Indian Express, NDTV