An Indian sailor lost his life when a wooden dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The vessel, named Al Faize Noore Sulemani 1, was carrying 18 crew members. Four of them sustained burn injuries and are currently undergoing treatment in Dubai.
The vessel left Dubai on May 7 and was heading toward Mukkam in Yemen. Around 1 am on May 8, while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, it caught fire.
The general secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association (Gujarat), Adam Bhaya, wrote a letter to officials confirming the incident. In his letter, he described it as an “unfortunate and violent” exchange between US and Iranian forces.
Who was the deceased?
The deceased has been identified as Altaf Talab Ker, who worked as an engine driver on the dhow. He was originally from Salaya village in Dwarka district, Gujarat.
The remaining crew members were rescued by MSV Prem Sagar-I (BDI-1491) at 7 am local time and returned to Dubai port by 6 pm the same day. They are undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
What was the cause of the fire?
There is no official confirmation of the cause of the fire, as authorities are still investigating the matter. Reportedly, the crew members were rescued by a passing vessel operating in the region.
According to a source quoted by PTI, the wooden dhow was carrying general cargo that caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz, a key area in US-Iran tensions. The source also confirmed the death of one Indian and injuries to four others. “The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe,” the source added.
The Indian consulate in Dubai met the rescued crew members on Friday night. Sources said the consulate is also in touch with the dhow’s owner and is offering all possible support to those affected.
US-Iran Conflict
This incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. Recently, both countries exchanged fire on April 7 despite a ceasefire.
US officials claimed they launched strikes after three US Navy guided-missile destroyers came under attack from Iranian missiles and drones. On the other hand, Iran said the US violated the ceasefire by attacking an Iranian oil tanker near the waterway.
Ship movements near the Strait of Hormuz have remained limited since late February due to fears of attacks in the region.
