Seven Indians missing after aerial bombardment in Yemen

Seven Indians are reported to be missing after two boats carrying 20 Indians came under aerial bombardment in Yemen, the external affairs ministry said on Wednesday.

Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a statement that the two boats were carrying 20 Indian crew members, of whom 13 were alive but seven were reported missing.

Swarup said there were two boats, one of which was plying between Berbera (Somalia) and Mokha (Yemen). The boats came under aerial bombardment on September 8 afternoon.

He said the Indian embassy officials in Djibouti were in touch with local contacts over the matter.

"No other information is currently available regarding the identities of the Indian nationals. Embassy officials are in constant touch with local authorities and are also due to meet with the boat owner today (Wednesday) at which point of time more information would be available," he said.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed relief over the confirmation by the ministry that 13 of the 20 Indians reported dead in Yemen were safe.

Concerned about the seven individuals reported missing, Gandhi hoped that they were safe and appropriate steps were being taken to establish their whereabouts, said a Congress statement.