Two Indian seafarers are missing after a drone struck the oil tanker MT Petro Dolphin at Sohar Anchorage off Oman's northern coast on Sunday, October 11. Nine of the 11 Indian crew members on board have been rescued and are safe, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, while the Omani Coast Guard continues to search for the other two.
The attack was one of two on tankers with Indian crews that day, and it comes as the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels spills further into Gulf shipping lanes. For thousands of Indian families whose members work on merchant ships in the region, it has been an anxious week.
What happened off Oman
The MT Petro Dolphin, a Nicaragua-flagged tanker, was at anchor at Sohar when it was hit. Official updates have not said what kind of drone was used, how badly the ship was damaged, how the two crew members went missing or who carried out the strike.
Sonowal posted on X that "two Indian nationals currently remain missing" and said the government was coordinating with all relevant authorities. The Embassy of India in Muscat said it was closely monitoring the situation and was in touch with Omani authorities and the ship's management company.
A second tanker hit the same day
Also on October 11, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Valthera was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, which started a fire on board. All 11 Indian seafarers on that ship are reported safe. Two days earlier, on October 9, the Panama-flagged tanker MT GEM No. 2 was hit by a drone at Sharjah Anchorage; all 22 Indians on board were unhurt.
Key facts at a glance
| Vessel | MT Petro Dolphin (Nicaragua-flagged tanker) |
| Location | Sohar Anchorage, northern coast of Oman |
| Date | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Indian crew on board | 11 |
| Rescued | 9, reported safe |
| Missing | 2 Indian seafarers |
| Same-day incident | MT Valthera hit in Strait of Hormuz; all 11 Indians safe |
| Search | Omani Coast Guard, with Indian Embassy in Muscat coordinating |
India's response
The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attacks on commercial shipping and called them deeply concerning. "India reiterates the need for immediate de-escalation and a resolution to the ongoing conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," the ministry said, adding that the safety and security of Indian seafarers remains a priority for the government. It also stressed that freedom of navigation must be upheld.
The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) has identified the two missing sailors and asked for urgent updates on their condition and support for their families. The union has also questioned whether enough is being done to protect crews in a conflict zone and has called for stronger safeguards for merchant seafarers.
Why the Gulf has become so dangerous
The tanker strikes come against the backdrop of a widening fight between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis. Houthi missiles and drones have targeted Saudi airports in recent days, including the deadly attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, and Saudi air defences intercepted fresh attacks aimed at Riyadh on Tuesday, October 13. The Saudi-led coalition has in turn struck targets inside Yemen, including fuel facilities it says the Houthis use to support their drone and missile campaign.
The United States has also signalled it is weighing its options after the airport attack, which has kept oil markets and shipping firms on edge.
What it means for India
India is one of the world's largest suppliers of seafarers, and Indians crew a large share of the tankers and cargo ships that sail through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Every attack in these waters puts Indian lives directly at risk.
There is an economic angle too. A big part of India's crude oil and LPG imports pass through this region. Rising insurance costs, rerouted ships or delays can feed into fuel prices at home, at a time when retail inflation is already climbing.
What happens next
The immediate priority is finding the two missing seafarers. The Indian Embassy in Muscat is working with Omani authorities and the ship's managers, and families are waiting for word. Shipping companies are likely to review crew safety, anchorage choices and routes in the region, and seafarer unions are expected to keep pressing for stronger protection.
On the diplomatic side, India is expected to keep up its calls for de-escalation while staying in close contact with Gulf governments, where millions of Indians live and work. ViralDose will update this story as more information comes in.
Comments (0)