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Six Indians have been killed after their boat was hit in Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen, said the external affairs ministry on Friday.
The six were among the seven who were initially reported missing when two boats, ‘Mustafa’ and ‘Asmar’, carrying a total of 21 Indian nationals, came under aerial attack on September 8.
“Late at night on September 10, the bodies of six of the missing persons present on the two boats were recovered and were brought to the Military Hospital. The families of the deceased have been informed, and their verbal consent has been taken for appropriate funeral rites to be performed in Hodeidah as per religious practises,” MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
He also noted 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.
“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 of them 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 added.
Some media reports, quoting residents and fishermen, on Tuesday had claimed that at least 20 Indian nationals were killed in air strikes by Saudi-led coalition forces on fuel smugglers at Hodeidah port.
India does not have an embassy in Yemen. It was shut down in April after evacuation of its nationals.