Around 23,000 Indian sailors are reportedly stranded across the Gulf region as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts key maritime routes. With Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked, 36 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the region, prompting India to increase monitoring and maintain constant contact with crews transporting crucial energy cargo.

Around 23,000 Indian sailors are possibly stranded across the conflict-hit Gulf region amid the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran that caused disruption on maritime routes.

According to an NDTV Profit report, as of Thursday, 36 Indian-flagged vessels remain trapped in the Persian Gulf.

The crisis has been triggered by recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, after which Tehran effectively moved to block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but crucial maritime corridor through which nearly 20% of the world’s crude oil supply passes.

In response, the Indian government has intensified surveillance in sensitive maritime zones to protect its shipping assets. Authorities have increased the monitoring frequency of vessels from once every six hours to hourly checks and are maintaining continuous contact with the crews onboard the affected ships.