'Six Indians killed, one missing in aerial bombing off Yemen'

New Delhi, September 11: India said on Friday that six Indians had died following aerial bombardment on two boats carrying 21 Indians off Yemen while one is still uccounted for. Most of the people were from Gujarat. In a statement, exterl affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the bodies of six of the missing people present on the two boats were recovered on Thursday and brought to the Military Hospital in Djibouti. He said that two boats, ‘Mustafa’ and ‘Asmar’, carrying a total of 21 Indian tiols came under aerial attack on September 8. Following the incident, 14 tiols were rescued and seven were initially reported as missing. Swarup said that according to information most of the seamen are from Gujarat.

He said that the families of those dead have been informed, and their verbal consent taken for appropriate funeral rites to be performed in Hodeidah as per religious practices. Of the remaining 15 Indians on the two boats, 14 are safe in Hodeidah, and of these, four are undergoing treatment in a local hospital. All the 14 are in regular touch with their families. One person is still missing, and the mission is working with the local authorities and contacts to ascertain his whereabouts, he said. Swarup added that the Indian embassy in Yemen’s camp office in Djibouti has been constantly in touch with authorities and local contacts to ascertain more details. (IANS)