India identifies 13 ships for evacuation from Strait of Hormuz

Agencies have identified 13 of the 25 India-bound vessels currently in the Strait of Hormuz for evacuation, the Times of India reported, the group includes eight ships carrying fertiliser for the Kharif crop and three carrying energy products, and 17 India-flagged vessels, along with foreign-flagged ships, are bound for India, with Indian seafarers among both crews. Officials said 67 ships of Indian interest have crossed the conflict-hit channel since the war began. Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, chairing a review meeting with senior officials, said 4,052 stranded Indian seafarers have been repatriated after the maritime regulator DGMA fielded 16,448 calls and 40,594 emails through its emergency response, alongside medical help, counselling and family support, adding that financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh is being provided to the next of kin of those who died. With the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden currently high-risk maritime zones, the government has cautioned ships and shipping lines transiting them.