About 17 Indian crew members were rescued from a wooden dhow that capsized in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. One Indian sailor was killed, and several were injured after a fire broke out on the vessel near the Strait, sources said on Saturday
The source said that the exact cause of the blaze is still being ascertained.
The crew members were rescued by a vessel which was possibly in the area.
"A wooden Dhow, carrying general cargo, with 18 Indian crew capsized yesterday close to the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire," said a source.
"In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries. The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe," the source said.
The incident took place amid heightened tension between Iran and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. Indian consulate officials are in contact with the owner of the dhow and spoke with the rescued passengers on Friday.
Shipping movement through the Strait of Hormuz has remained near a standstill since late February due to fears of Iranian attacks on oil tankers using the route.
The US’s Centcom said that it caried out strikes on Iran after three US Navy guided missile destroyers allegedly came under attack from Iranian missiles.