Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Three Indian nationals rescued from a Turkish-owned cargo ship targeted in a Russian drone attack in the Black Sea have departed for India. The Indian Embassy in Bucharest confirmed their departure on Saturday, stating that all necessary assistance had been provided to facilitate their safe return.
The three Indians, Sahil Sandhu, Ashwini Kumar and Harman Singh, were rescued following the attack. The Indian Embassy expressed its gratitude to Romanian authorities, Constanța County Hospital and Romanian rescue teams for their support in evacuating the sailors and providing medical treatment to the injured Indian national.
According to available information, the cargo vessel, MV Royad Mamadov, owned by a Turkish company, was transporting maize from Ukraine’s Izmail port to Ravenna in Italy. The ship came under attack on Monday while sailing in the Black Sea, outside Romania’s territorial waters.
Two foreign sailors were killed in the attack, while several members of the crew sustained injuries. The nationalities of the deceased sailors could not be immediately established.
All three Indian nationals survived the incident. However, one of them suffered injuries and was admitted to Constanța County Hospital in Romania for treatment.
A representative of the Indian Embassy met the three rescued Indians on October 7 to assess their condition and provide assistance. In a social media post published that day, the embassy stated that two of the Indians had been accommodated at a hotel, while the third was receiving treatment at the county hospital in Constanța.
The embassy reported that the condition of all three Indians was stable at the time.
It also confirmed that essential items, including mobile phones, had been arranged for the rescued nationals through the local agent of the shipping company. The embassy subsequently coordinated the necessary arrangements to facilitate their return to India.
The departure of the three Indians has brought relief following the incident. However, the deaths of two sailors and injuries sustained by other crew members have raised further concerns about maritime security in the Black Sea, where vessels operating near the Russia-Ukraine conflict zone face significant risks.
The Indian Embassy acknowledged the cooperation extended by Romanian authorities and rescue personnel, whose assistance proved crucial in ensuring the safety, medical care and eventual repatriation of the three Indian nationals.
