India to track every sailor in Strait of Hormuz after Indian crew member killed in missile strike

India has stepped up measures to protect its citizens working in the maritime sector after a missile attack in the Strait of Hormuz killed an Indian sailor and injured 10 others.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has raised the issue with Iran after two UAE-flagged commercial tankers carrying Indian crew members were hit in the volatile waterway. In response, Indian authorities are introducing a real-time monitoring system to track the movement and safety of Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

Indian sailor killed in tanker attack

The attack took place as two UAE-linked vessels, MT Mombasa and MT Al Bahiyah, were sailing through waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

The ships were reportedly struck by Iranian cruise missiles, causing major damage and triggering fires onboard. The vessels were carrying around 30 Indian nationals among their crew.

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Indian authorities identified the deceased sailor as Sonu Kumar Gupta, a marine engineer from Bihar. Gupta had returned to active duty only three weeks before the attack.

Ten other Indian sailors were injured in the strikes, with two reported to be in critical condition.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility, saying it had targeted two vessels that allegedly ignored maritime warnings. The claim has been rejected by the UAE and criticised by India, which has raised concerns over attacks on civilian shipping.

Follow all the latest live updates and developments from the Iran war here.

India orders closer monitoring of seafarers

Following the attack, India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is preparing an emergency tracking mechanism for Indian sailors working in the high-risk region.

Under the new system, manning agencies and international shipping companies employing Indian crew members will have to provide regular details of sailors entering the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) will use satellite data and the international Automatic Identification System (AIS) to monitor vessel locations and verify the movements of Indian seafarers.

The move is aimed at ensuring authorities can quickly respond during emergencies, especially in cases where ships lose communication or switch off tracking systems in sensitive maritime zones.

Growing toll on Indian sailors

The latest strike has highlighted the growing risks faced by Indian maritime workers amid escalating tensions in West Asia.

The MEA said Indian nationals have suffered a significant number of casualties during attacks on commercial shipping routes in the region. Several Indian sailors have been killed or gone missing in recent incidents involving missile strikes, naval blockades and attacks on merchant vessels.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Indian seafarers have faced among the highest fatalities among foreign crews affected by attacks on commercial shipping in the region, calling the targeting of civilian vessels a violation of international maritime norms.

Following the attack, New Delhi summoned Iran’s Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini and conveyed its concerns over the safety of Indian citizens.

The government has pressed Tehran to ensure the protection of civilian vessels and seafarers operating in international waters.

Beyond the safety of its citizens, the stability of the Strait of Hormuz has major economic implications for India.

The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying a significant share of global oil shipments. India, one of the world’s largest energy consumers, depends heavily on supplies passing through the region.