An Indian sailor was killed and several others were injured after a wooden dhow carrying 18 Indian crew members caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, government sources said on Saturday.
The incident took place on Friday when the dhow, carrying general cargo, caught fire and later capsized close to the strategic maritime route connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
According to sources, as cited by PTI, 17 Indian crew members were rescued by a vessel passing through the area.
Four injured crew members undergoing treatment in Dubai
“One Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe,” a source told PTI.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire is still being investigated.
The incident comes amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route through which a large share of the world’s crude supply passes.
Officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the rescued Indian nationals on Friday night, sources said.
The consulate is also in contact with the dhow owner and is providing assistance to the crew members, the sources added.
(With inputs from PTI)
