Indian Seafarer Dies at Oman’s Duqm Port, Repatriation Arrangements Made

Indian National Dies Amid Medical Complications at Oman Port

An Indian national died due to medical complications aboard the vessel MT Celestial while docked at Duqm Port in Oman. The news was confirmed by the Indian embassy in Muscat late Saturday.

Necessary arrangements are being made for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India, as stated in a post on social media by the embassy.

India has over 300,000 seafarers working across global shipping fleets, according to government data. Over 18,000 Indian seafarers are employed in the Middle East, an official in the country’s shipping ministry said last week.

This death follows three other Indian seafarers killed in a US strike on a tanker off Oman days earlier, sparking criticism from the public and opposition parties.

Opposition parties have urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue with US President Donald Trump at the Group of Seven summit later this week. India’s foreign ministry had summoned the US chargé d’affaires to express its deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping.

The body of 35-year-old Nishanth Uirthanathan, who died on June 11, remained onboard for more than two days without proper refrigeration. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India shared a video from the tanker showing crew using cold water bottles in an attempt to slow decomposition, which they described as a horrifying and health-risking situation.