Six Indians killed in Yemen aerial bombardment, one missing: MEA

New Delhi, Sep 11  India said on Friday that six Indians had died following aerial bombardment of their boats off Yemen coast while one Indian was unaccounted for.

In a statement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the bodies of six of the missing persons aboard two boats were recovered on Thursday and brought to the military hospital in Djibouti.

He said that the two boats, 'Mustafa' and 'Asmar', carrying a total of 21 Indian nationals came under aerial attack on September 8. Following the incident, 14 nationals were rescued while seven were initially reported missing.

The 14 rescued Indians were safe in Hodeidah. Of these, four were undergoing treatment in a local hospital. 

All these 14 Indian nationals were in regular touch with their families. The Indian mission was working with local authorities and contacts to ascertain the whereabouts of the one Indian still missing, the spokesman said.

Swarup said that the families of the dead have been informed, and their verbal consent taken for appropriate funeral rites to be performed in Hodeidah as per religious practices. 

He said that the Indian embassy in Yemen's Camp Office in Djibouti was constantly in touch with authorities and local contacts to ascertain more details.