The ongoing conflict in West Asia has left nearly 1,000 Indian seafarers stranded in a perilous situation across various Iranian ports, including Bandar Abbas and Sirri Island. Heart-wrenching video and text messages have started reaching the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), where sailors are seen pleading for urgent intervention by the Indian government. With heavy missile and drone strikes occurring near the docks, the crew members are living in constant fear of their lives.

“We are running out of fresh water and rations. No freight services are willing to replenish our stocks due to the war,” said one sailor in a viral video, with thick black smoke visible in the background. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the activation of underwater mines have made maritime evacuation nearly impossible at the moment. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has successfully repatriated over 52,000 Indians from the Gulf since March 1st, these seafarers remain a major concern due to their proximity to the active combat zones. Their families in India are now making emotional appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a safe and immediate rescue mission.