"Making all efforts to trace" 2 missing Indian sailors after Odesa vessel attack: MEA
New Delhi, August 4
Making all efforts to trace two Indian sailors who remain missing after the vessel MV AGN Ragnar came under attack while leaving Ukraine's Odesa port on July 25, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said four Indian nationals were on board the vessel when it came under attack, with two of them safe and two still missing.
"The vessel AGN Ragnar came under attack while it was leaving the Odesa port. There were four Indian nationals on board. As I informed you earlier, two of them are safe, while two are missing," Jaiswal said while addressing the bi-weekly media briefing.
He said the search and rescue operations are being carried out in coordination with the authorities in both countries.
"Since the incident took place, our embassies in Ukraine and Romania have been in constant touch with local authorities, and search and rescue operations have been undertaken as directed by the Supreme Court, in coordination with authorities in Ukraine and Romania," Jaiswal said.
"We are making all efforts to trace the two missing Indian nationals. We are also in touch with their family members and providing all possible assistance," he added.
Jaiswal in that briefing further underscored the government's priority towards the safety of Indian seafarers.
"Let me also say that we attach the highest importance and priority to the safety, well-being, and welfare of our seafaring community," he said.
A merchant vessel carrying four Indian nationals on board was struck at the port of Odesa, India's Embassy in Ukraine said on July 26.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy said, "Embassy of India in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation following the incident involving MV AGN Ragnar, which was struck at the Port of Odesa, on 25 July. Four Indian nationals were on board the vessel. As per the latest information, two have been confirmed safe, and information is awaited regarding the other two nationals. Search and rescue operations are underway. The Embassy is in constant touch with the concerned authorities."
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is truly concerning. The MEA's efforts are commendable, but we need to ask why Indian nationals are still being sent into these dangerous conflict zones. Our seafarers deserve better protection and clear guidelines about the risks involved.
It's reassuring to know our embassies are actively coordinating with Ukraine and Romania. But the real question is - how long will this war continue to endanger innocent lives from neutral countries? Every single life lost is a tragedy that could have been avoided. 🙏
The government should also think about compensation for the families of these sailors. If they've lost their earning member, what happens to their families? We need a proper safety net for Indian seafarers working in international waters.
This is a stark reminder of how global conflicts have far-reaching consequences. These sailors were just doing their jobs and now their families are suffering. Hopefully international pressure can help resolve this war sooner rather than later.
While I appreciate the government's efforts, I wish there was more transparency about the risks Indian seafarers face. We need to know if our sailors are being informed about the dangerous routes before they set sail. Prevention is always better than rescue missions. 🙏
My heart goes out to the
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