Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has confirmed that 21 Indian seafarers aboard the Panama flagged container ship Euphoria are safe and unharmed after Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boats opened fire on the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. One additional Indian crew member on the Liberian flagged Epaminondas also targeted is also reported safe, amid escalating maritime tensions from the US naval blockade and Iranian countermeasures. No injuries have been reported among Indian nationals in the incidents.

The attacks occurred on April 22 when IRGC fast boats fired warning shots at three foreign flagged vessels, including Euphoria (21 Indians and 1 Myanmar national), Epaminondas (1 Indian), and the Panama flagged MSC Francesca (no Indians). Real time tracking shows Euphoria heading toward Jeddah after the incident, while Epaminondas and Francesca were reportedly detained at Iran's Bandar Abbas port. Two Indian flagged vessels, Sanmar Herald and Jag Arnav, also faced IRGC fire but turned back safely. The Indian crude oil tanker Desh Garima transited the strait unharmed on April 18 and reached Mumbai on April 22 with all 31 crew safe. Additional Secretary Mukesh Mangal stated authorities are in touch with Iranian officials for the detained crew's release and monitoring the situation closely, as GPS jamming and spoofing disrupt maritime navigation in the area.

The safe status of all 22 Indian seafarers amid IRGC firing highlights both relief and vulnerability for India's extensive maritime workforce in the world's most critical oil chokepoint. With the US-Iran ceasefire extended but blockade intact, the incidents underscore risks to global shipping and India's energy imports, prompting calls for enhanced safety protocols and diplomatic de-escalation to protect lives and trade routes.