Dwarka Sailor killed in ‘crossfire’ on vessel headed to Yemen

Adam Bhaya, general secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, told The Indian Express that the incident happened while the vessel was “crossing the Strait of Hormuz”; its captain was Ameen Salemamad Sumbhania and Ker was “near the engine room”..

Bhaya wrote to the Indian consulate in Dubai saying, “This incident has caused immense fear and grief among the seafarer community and the family members of the deceased. The loss of an innocent Indian seafarer under such circumstances is deeply distressing and requires urgent attention from the concerned authorities.”

Another vessel, Prem Sagar, rescued the other 17 crew members and brought them to Dubai around 6 pm on Friday, Bhaya said.

Bhaya has written to the Indian Consulate in Dubai seeking support for Ker’s funeral in Dubai, and to “facilitate all legal, consular and documentation procedures and ensure safety and well being of the surviving crew members”, all of whom were Indian according to him.

According to Bhaya, Ker belonged to Jam Salaya town in Dwarka and had departed from Dubai aboard the vessel on Wednesday afternoon.