World

Drone Strike On Ship Off Gujarat Being Investigated By Indian Navy

The Indian Navy cruiser INS Mormugao arrived on Saturday night at the MV Chem Pluto, an India-bound merchant vessel that had been attacked by an Iranian drone, and ascertained specifics of the attack, officials said on Sunday.

The Indian Navy, according to officials, has initiated an investigation to determine whether the drone used to attack the vessel was launched from a considerable distance or a local vessel.

“The vessels operating in the area where the attack took place are being checked”, the officer said.

A Pentagon spokesperson stated that a one-way attack drone fired from Iran struck the motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles off the coast of India.

Meanwhile, the Indian shore Guard ship Vikram is escorting the MV Chem Pluto, which is slated to arrive on the Mumbai shore on Monday.

According to Indian Coast Guard officials, the ICGS Vikram arrived at the stranded ship Friday evening and both are currently in Indian seas.

The incident is the latest manifestation of rising regional tensions following the October 7 Hamas strikes on Israel.

According to the Pentagon, this is the seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021.

In a statement, the ICG stated, “MV Chem Pluto, with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member on Saturday caught fire after it was attacked by a suspected drone. It was later secured by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)”.

The merchant vessel reportedly set sail from the UAE on December 19 and was scheduled to arrive in New Mangalore on December 25.

According to the official statement, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information on December 23 of a fire onboard the MV Chem Pluto, which was allegedly assaulted by a suspected drone strike or aerial platform.

The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centre (MRCC), which established real-time communication with the vessel’s agent, confirmed that no lives were lost and pledged all assistance.

It was also discovered that the crew had extinguished the vessel fire. To ensure the vessel’s safety, MRCC Mumbai activated ISN and promptly diverted other merchant vessels around Chem Pluto for aid.

“The Indian Coast Guard also pressed Offshore Patrol vessel Vikram and Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft into action for helping Chem Pluto”, the statement reads.

It went on to say, “The Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has sanitized the area and established communication with Chem Pluto. The vessel has started making its way towards Mumbai after undertaking damage assessment and repairs on its power generation systems”.

Also read: Attacks By Russian Drones In Kherson, Ukraine: 1 Dead, 7 Injured

Spriha Rai

Recent Posts

4415 Indians Evacuated From Iran And Israel Under ‘Operation Sindhu’: MEA

India evacuated 4,415 nationals from Iran and Israel under Operation Sindhu, the MEA said Friday,…

1 hour ago

PM Modi To Embark On Five-Nation Tour To Strengthen Global Partnerships

PM Narendra Modi will embark on a five-nation tour from July 2, visiting Ghana, Trinidad…

1 hour ago

Allahabad HC Directs UPPSC To Allow Petitioner A Scribe For PCS Main Exam

The Allahabad HC has directed the UPPSC to allow petitioner Sameer Khan to use a…

2 hours ago

Allahabad High Court Slams UP Officials For Defying Judicial Orders

The Allahabad High Court strongly rebuked three senior officials from Baghpat district, the Collector, SDM…

2 hours ago

Adani Group Becomes India’s Fastest-Growing Brand, Driven By Green Energy Focus

The Adani Group has emerged as India’s fastest-growing brand in 2025, registering a massive 82%…

3 hours ago

Pakistan: Flash Floods In Swat Sweep Away 18 Tourists; Claim Seven Lives

Flash floods struck Swat district, on Friday, sweeping 18 tourists, including women and children, into…

5 hours ago