Bantwal: A 25-year-old youth from Bantwal taluk in Dakshina Kannada is among the Indian crew members rescued after a commercial vessel came under a targeted missile attack off the Oman coast amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region.
The vessel, JFS Galaxy, was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, while sailing along the Oman coastline. Among those rescued is Rachan R K, a native of Biliyooru village in Bantwal taluk, who is now safe in Oman under the care of his shipping company officials. He has informed his family that he is bound for Dubai.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by Indian seafarers working in conflict-prone maritime regions, even as geopolitical tensions continue to affect shipping routes in the Middle East.
Missile attack triggered fire on board
According to information shared by Rachan with his family, the crew had received prior warnings about the possibility of an attack while the vessel was operating in the region.
Despite the alerts, the ship continued its journey along the Oman coast. At around 2.05 am on Sunday, a missile struck the vessel, causing a massive fire in the engine room.
The explosion jolted the crew members from their sleep, forcing them to act swiftly to save their lives. As flames spread rapidly through the vessel, the crew abandoned ship using lifeboats and jumped into the sea.
While most of the crew members managed to escape safely, one of Rachan’s colleagues from Pune reportedly went missing during the chaos following the attack.
Oman Navy rescues stranded crew
After the crew abandoned the burning vessel, the Oman Navy launched a rescue operation and safely evacuated the stranded seafarers.
The rescued crew members were provided with the necessary assistance before being shifted to safety. Rachan is currently staying in Oman under the supervision of officials from his shipping company and is expected to travel to Dubai.
His family said they remain in regular contact with him and are relieved that he escaped the attack unharmed.
Marine career began after graduation
Rachan is the youngest of the three children of Rohithaksha Bhaanabettu, a resident of Biliyooru village in Bantwal taluk.
He completed his degree education at Vivekananda College, Puttur, before enrolling in a marine training course in Mumbai. After completing the course, he joined the merchant shipping industry and has been working aboard commercial vessels.
His family said he had always aspired to build a career at sea and had been serving on international shipping routes.
Family recounts anxious moments
Speaking to the media, Rachan’s father, Rohithaksha Bhaanabettu, said the family went through anxious hours after learning that the ship carrying their son had come under attack.
“We were gripped by severe anxiety when news broke that the ship our son was working on had been attacked. We breathed a huge sigh of relief only after he contacted us and confirmed that he was safe,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the missing crew member from Pune and prayed for his safe recovery.
Rohithaksha thanked the Oman Navy for rescuing the Indian crew members, including his son, and hoped they would all return home safely at the earliest.
Relative recalls concerns over Gulf tensions
Uday, a relative of Rachan, said the young seafarer had often spoken about the tense security situation in the Middle East and the uncertainty faced by crews operating in the region.
According to him, Rachan had frequently mentioned the heightened alert levels and the possibility of security threats while navigating through sensitive maritime zones.
The family expressed relief over his safe rescue and said they are eagerly awaiting his return to India.
Incident highlights risks for seafarers
The missile attack on the JFS Galaxy comes at a time when commercial shipping routes in the Gulf and adjoining waters continue to face security challenges due to regional instability.
The incident underscores the dangers encountered by merchant navy personnel working in conflict-sensitive waters and the importance of timely rescue operations during maritime emergencies.
With Rachan now safe, his family has thanked everyone involved in the rescue effort while continuing to pray for the missing crew member and the safe return of all those affected by the attack.