Page 208 – THE LOCAL REPORT ARTICLES

Gill wins Polly Umrigar Award, Mandhana creates history with fifth BCCI honor

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March 15, 2026

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Gill wins Polly Umrigar Award, Mandhana creates history with fifth BCCI honor

Shubman Gill wins Polly Umrigar Award, Smriti Mandhana creates history with fifth BCCI honor

Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana (PTI)

Shubman Gill and Mandana Awarded as the Best International Cricketer (Men and Women) BCCI The 2026 Naaman Awards will be held on Sunday to celebrate their outstanding performance in the 2024-2025 season. Gill claims great reputation Polly Umrigar This is his second Cricketer of the Year award after his first win in 2023, while Mandana has won the honor for the fifth time.The ceremony also honored former great Roger Binney, Rahul Dravidand Mitali Raj Received the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, BCCI’s highest honor, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.Gill had a phenomenal year in 2025, cementing his place as the backbone of India’s long-form batting line-up. He led the way in India’s five-match Test series in England, scoring 754 runs at an average of 75.40 in 10 innings, including four centuries and a career-best 269 runs. He also played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy victory last year, entering the tournament as the world’s number one ODI batsman. Gill started with an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh and ended with 188.Mandana, meanwhile, completed 1,703 international runs in 2025, including 1,362 ODI runs – the most by any woman in a single year – becoming the first female batsman in ODI history to cross 1,000 runs in a calendar year. She played a major role in India’s maiden Women’s World Cup victory, scoring 434 points in nine games to become India’s top scorer and second-highest scorer. Earlier, Mandana hit a record 50-ball century against Australia in New Delhi, setting the fastest ODI century record by an Indian batsman and breaking it. Virat Kohli52 goals record.

Canada-wide arrest warrant issued for Indian-born Amarbir Singh in Navdeep Kaur murder case; suspect may have fled the country

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Canada-wide arrest warrant issued for Indian-born Amarbir Singh in Navdeep Kaur murder case; suspect may have fled the country

British Columbia police have issued a nationwide arrest warrant for 24-year-old Amarbir Singh as the main accused in the murder of 28-year-old Navdeep Kaur. Kaur disappeared in 2024 and her body was found five months later. Singh and Kaur are in a relationship. Police say investigators have pieced together a timeline of events leading up to Kaul’s death and submitted it to the British Columbia Crown Prosecution Service for charge approval. Singer was charged with second-degree murder on Friday. The department said it was prepared to work with overseas police to track down Singh and bring him back to Canada. “We know Mr. Singh may have fled the country, but that will not stop us from pursuing him,” Detective Superintendent Freda Fong of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said in a statement.Kaul was last seen on February 22, 2024 at approximately 10:30 pm. Her family reported her missing a day later because they were concerned about her health and told police it was unusual for Kaur not to contact her family. On July 23, 2024, Richmond RCMP said they discovered human remains in the Fraser River in an industrial area at the end of Williams Street and are working with the coroner’s department on identification. Later that year, the remains were identified as those of Call.

Is Amarbir Singh in India now?

Fong told Global News in an email that investigators believe Singh fled to India in late 2024 after being interrogated in connection with the case. Fang added that he was not charged at the time and was last known to be in India. She also confirmed that Singh had no criminal record in Canada and had a very limited history of contact with police.An immigration expert told Global News it could take a long time for Singh to return. “If you have deep pockets, you can buy top legal talent and spend years in the process,” said lawyer Richard Kurland. “Additionally, there are domestic safeguards. In India, for example, they have a process before they put a person on a plane to Canada, so there are no deadlines, there are no enforceable controls. There’s politics, there’s diplomacy.“

‘Expectations are huge’: Dravid hails Surya and Gambhir as India win T20 World Cup

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March 15, 2026

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‘Expectations are huge’: Dravid hails Surya and Gambhir as India win T20 World Cup

'Expectations are huge': Rahul Dravid praises Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir in India's T20 World Cup victory

Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav (PTI)

Former India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid India’s immense cricketing potential has finally translated into sustained success, with a string of wins in global tournaments reflecting the immense talent that has long characterized Indian cricket, said Sunday. India has performed well in ICC events, winning the last two men’s T20 World Cups, women’s ODI World Cup, men’s U-19 World Cup and women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in the past two years.

Exclusive: Rahul Dravid on Eden Gardens’ iconic win over Australia in 2001

Dravid, who was awarded the Colonel CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s annual awards ceremony, spoke about the team’s success in an interaction with Star Sports. “That’s how it feels, right? “At this moment when almost everything comes together, there has always been huge potential in Indian cricket and that potential has been realized on the field. Off the field I think we have always had everything we need and on the field it is great to see that potential being realized.” Dravid said the continued success is the result of a coordinated effort of multiple factors, from players and management to coaches and fans. “It’s amazing. It’s amazing to see the way Indian cricket has developed in these three decades,” he said while looking back on the journey since his international debut in 1996. “Indian cricket has always had amazing talent. We’ve always had very good administrators. We’ve always had very good coaches and we’ve been able to back that up with incredible infrastructure. We’ve always had a great domestic system, (a) very good junior cricket system.” “Some of the most incredible fans in the world. The kind of supporters and fans that we have, it deserves all of that to come together and be successful on the field. It’s amazing to see how all of that has come together now.” Dravid, who led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, also praised the current squad for being able to withstand expectations and deliver on the big stage. “It’s great to see… how the World T20 team performs, the expectations are huge. They started off as favorites but it’s not always easy,” Dravid said. “Yes, of course, they are a very good team but it’s not always easy to start as favorites and end up lifting the trophy. It has its own pressures, its own challenges. It’s great to see Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) and Gautam (Gambhir) and the team really did that,” he said.

‘A war of civilizations’: BJP, DMK, AIADMK, Congress welcome EC to announce poll dates for 4 states, 1 UT; TMC issue moves

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‘A war of civilizations’: BJP, DMK, AIADMK, Congress welcome EC to announce poll dates for 4 states, 1 UT; TMC issue moves

New Delhi: Political parties on Sunday welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of polling dates for four states and one Union Territory. West Bengal will vote in two phases from April 23, with Kerala, Assam and Puducherry voting on April 9 and Tamil Nadu on April 23; all results will be announced on May 4.In 2021, West Bengal will go to polls in eight phases and Assam in three phases. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are likely to go for single-phase voting, while West Bengal and Assam are likely to go for multi-phase voting due to their larger number of voters.

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the Election Commission’s move to conduct Bengal elections in two phases, calling it a “battle of civilizations”. The Congress party also welcomed the Election Commission’s move to conduct polls in two phases in the state, but the TMC said the number of phases only “reflects the aspirations of the BJP”.

ECI announces assembly election dates for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry

The poll panel had earlier announced that the assembly elections for 294 seats in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (AIADMK), welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of single-phase voting in the state.

How did the Bharatiya Janata Party react?

Welcoming the move, the BJP expressed confidence of winning the West Bengal polls, saying “the countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun”, referring to the TMC government in the state.“This is not just an election, it is a battle of civilizations. On April 23 and 29, the people of West Bengal will vote in two phases to take back their future. The countdown to the end of Mahajungle Raj has begun. With 50 days to go, May 4 will mark a new dawn for Bengal,” the Bengal BJP said in a post on X.

How did TMC react?

The All India Trinamool Congress has downplayed the Election Commission’s decision to conduct Bengal elections in two phases, claiming that the polling schedule was fixed as per “the demands of its political masters”.The party also questioned what it called the “duality” of the committee, pointing out that the 2021 Assembly elections in the state were being held in eight phases despite high Covid-19 infection rates, while the upcoming polls will be limited to just two phases.TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said: “The number of stages only reflects the wishes of the BJP and the Election Commission is only complying with the demands of its political masters.”Chakraborty added: “Otherwise, how can one justify holding eight-phase polls in the state in 2021 when people are dying due to coronavirus infection and now it has been decided to hold polls in two phases when there is no such problem. The number of polls does not matter, people will destroy the BJP anyway,” Chakraborty added.

How Congress Reacted

Congress commended the Election Commission for announcing that elections will be held in one phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and in two phases in West Bengal.“I welcome the news that Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu will hold elections in one phase and West Bengal in two phases. I am happy that the number of phases has been condensed into one/two phases,” P Chidambaram said in a social media post. Senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya welcomed the decision to hold assembly elections in two phases in West Bengal but expressed concerns over whether voters would be able to freely exercise their franchise without intimidation.The former West Bengal Congress Committee chief said he raised the issue of alleged voter intimidation during an interaction with the entire assembly. election commission of india during a recent visit to the state.“I welcome the Election Commission’s move to hold polls in West Bengal in two phases. But my only concern is that voters can cast their votes freely without any fear,” Bhattacharya told PTI. “I have seen many elections where voters were not able to cast their votes even when there were six or seven phases,” he added.

What is the reaction of DMK, AIADMK?

The Dravida League (DMK) and the main opposition All India Anna Dravida League (AIADMK) and other political parties in Tamil Nadu on Sunday welcomed the schedule for assembly elections announced by the Election Commission of India and expressed confidence of winning the April 23 polls.DMK office-bearer Salem Dharanidharan said that ever since party president and chief minister MK Stalin took charge, his focus has remained on governance and public welfare, adding that the state government’s schemes are now being rolled out across the country.He also said that the party’s election preparations actually started from the day Stalin became the chief minister. “DMK will achieve a huge victory in the polls… It will be a sweep; winning more than 200 seats out of 234,” he said.Meanwhile, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “Our party president Edappadi K. Palaniswami has covered the campaign in nearly 200 constituencies. We are ready to face the polls tomorrow and whenever they are held, we will win.” He added that people support the AIADMK and expressed faith in the party and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance – including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam and Pattali Makkal Katchi – will achieve a major victory and form the next government in the state.

US pilots killed in KC-135 crash during mission in Iraq identified: Who were they?

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March 15, 2026

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US pilots killed in KC-135 crash during mission in Iraq identified: Who were they?

The US military has released the names of the six pilots killed in a tanker plane crash in the West Iraq Earlier this week, tributes continued to be paid to aircrews serving in various states and units. United States Air ForceFox News reported.

Six pilots from the 6th and 121st Air Refueling Wings were killed in a KC-135 crash in Iraq.

Thursday’s KC-135 crash remains under investigation.

KC-135 crash: Who are the victims?

The Pentagon announced Saturday that the victims were:

Maj. Alex Klingner (33): 6th Air Refueling Wing (Florida).

Captain Ariana G. Savino (31): 6th Air Refueling Wing (Florida).

Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt (34): 6th Air Refueling Wing (Florida).

Capt. Seth R. Koval (38): 121st Air Refueling Wing (Ohio).

Captain Curtis J. Angst (30): 121st Air Refueling Wing (Ohio).

Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons (28): 121st Air Refueling Wing (Ohio).

The incident brings to 13 the total number of U.S. service members killed in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The pilot on board a KC-135 Stratotanker was refueling when it crashed in western Iraq, according to the U.S. military. Officials said the crash “was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire.” Two aircraft were involved in the operation as part of Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon’s designation for the current military engagement with Iran, although the second aircraft successfully landed.

Tributes are pouring in

The three aircrew members, Klingner, Savino and Pruitt, are assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and serve with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey paid tribute to them, saying, “They were more than outstanding airmen. They were our neighbors — our fellow Alabamians. May their service and that of their families never be forgotten.”

The remaining three aircraft, Koval, Ernst and Simmons, are part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also recognized their service, emphasizing that their roles involve complex and dangerous missions. He said in a post on

The Pentagon has confirmed that nearly 140 personnel have been injured in multiple incidents over the past few weeks, highlighting the risks associated with continued operations in the Middle East.

Maj. Klingner’s family launches GoFundMe initiative

As families mourn their hero, a GoFundMe initiative to assist Major Klingner’s family has surpassed $467,000, demonstrating the community’s unity in dealing with the loss of these public servants.

‘Two minutes later – Indians hired’: Elon Musk spoofs as Devendra Chaplot joins SpaceX, xAI

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March 15, 2026

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‘Two minutes later – Indians hired’: Elon Musk spoofs as Devendra Chaplot joins SpaceX, xAI

Claims that all US tech jobs will go to Indians have resurfaced on social media after Devendra Chaplot announced that he is joining SpaceX and xAI to work closely with Elon Musk and his team to build super artificial intelligence. The announcement was accompanied by a photo of him and Musk, which drew criticism from Musk for once again hiring an Indian. Social media users mocked Elon Musk for talking about preventing multiculturalism and mass immigration, then hired an Indian two minutes later. Elon Musk has been a strong advocate of the H-1B visa program, which Silicon Valley companies rely heavily on. “SpaceX and xAI combine physical and digital intelligence, led by a leader with the deepest understanding of hardware. Add to that a senior institutional culture with cutting-edge scale resources, and you have the potential to achieve something truly unique,” Chaplot wrote in a statement.“I’m excited to advance the areas I’ve been obsessed with for years, from robotics research to building artificial intelligence models on the founding teams of Mistral and TML. Both times have been extraordinary journeys with extraordinary people that have shaped my thinking about building intelligence from the ground up. I’m grateful for everything that has brought me here, and I can’t wait to get started,” the announcement added. Chaplot graduated from IIT Bombay in 2014 with a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering and a minor in Applied Statistics. He received his PhD from the Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University. He worked at Samsung Electronics in South Korea. His AI work includes roles at Facebook AI Research, Mistral AI, and Thinking Machine Labs. He has received several awards for his artificial intelligence research. Given Elon’s extensive work in artificial intelligence, many social media users defended the hiring and said Elon understands talent. “To you, this guy is Indian, but to Elon, he’s talented,” one person wrote in response to the hateful post. “He is from IIT Bombay, you know how to get into that college, you have passed two of the toughest exams in the world: jee main and jee advance, 1.3 million students take these exams every year and IIT Bombay only has 1300 seats and they study 10 hours a day,” another netizen said of Chaplot. A third wrote: “It’s all about hiring the best people for their exceptional abilities, regardless of their origins.”

AAP’s Kejriwal and Sisodia move Supreme Court after Delhi High Court rejects plea to transfer GST policy case

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March 15, 2026

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在德里高等法院拒绝移交消费税政策案件的请求后，AAP 的 Arvind Kejriwal 和 Manish Sisodia 向最高法院提起诉讼

AAP’s Kejriwal and Sisodia move Supreme Court after Delhi High Court rejects plea to transfer GST policy case

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and senior party leader Manish Sisodia have Supreme Court after chief justice delhi high court The party on Sunday said it rejected their request to transfer the CBI’s removal plea from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to another judge in the GST policy case.The development comes a day before a CBI petition challenging the release order is scheduled to be heard before Justice Sharma.

Chief Justice of Delhi High Court rejects transfer request

Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya of the Delhi High Court rejected the request of former Chief Minister Kejriwal and other defendants to transfer the matter to the administrative side, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.The Chief Justice held that Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who is hearing a petition from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the basis of roster allocation, found no reason to pass a transfer order, sources quoted by PTI said.After being rejected, AAP said Kejriwal and Sisodia had approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision.

Why is Kejriwal looking for a transfer?

On March 11, Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused in the GST policy case filed a submission before the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court seeking transfer of the CBI plea from Justice Sharma to another “impartial” judge.In his statement, Kejriwal said he had “serious, sincere and legitimate concerns” that the hearing on the matter would not be fair and neutral.The CBI has moved the Delhi High Court against the trial court’s order releasing Kejriwal and other accused in the GST policy case.

What happened in the High Court?

While issuing notice to all 23 accused, including Kejriwal, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that certain findings and observations made by the trial court during the charge-sheet stage appear to be erroneous on their face and need to be considered.This observation seems to have triggered concerns among AAP leaders.Earlier, Kejriwal’s counsel argued that the high court in the first brief hearing on March 9 not only issued notice but also unilaterally recorded the detailed order of the trial court without hearing the released accused was “erroneous” in its preliminary view.The Representative also objected to the High Court’s stay of the trial court’s directions and observations on the investigating officer, including the proposed departmental action, without elaborating on the specific irregularities that justified such interim intervention.This provision of relief at the initial stage and the lack of hearings for defendants who have been released heightened concerns that amending pleas might not get the required judicial hearings, according to submissions.

The trial court has released Kejriwal, Sisodia and others

The debate over the charges in the GST policy case started in December 2025 and on February 27, the CBI special court passed a detailed order releasing Kejriwal, Sisodia, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and all other accused involved in the case.Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the case in June 2024 and charged in July 2024.The CBI petition challenging the release is now on the list for hearing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday.

Southwest Airlines will cease flight operations at 2 major U.S. airports starting June 4; key details here

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March 15, 2026

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Southwest Airlines will cease flight operations at 2 major U.S. airports starting June 4; key details here

Southwest Airlines announced that it will cease operations at two key U.S. airports as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to optimize its network.

Southwest Airlines will cease operations at Chicago O'Hare Airport and Washington Dulles Airport on June 4, choosing to focus on Midway Airport and Reagan National Airport. (Associated Press) — Southwest Airlines will cease operations at Chicago O’Hare Airport and Washington Dulles Airport on June 4, choosing to focus on Midway Airport and Reagan National Airport. (Associated Press)

The low-cost airline said it would stop flights to and from chicago O’Hare International and Washington Dulles International Airport A press release issued on Friday stated that international flights will begin on June 4, the New York Post reported.

Also read: Shocking graffiti at San Jose State University calls for ‘annihilation’ of Jews: ‘Make Osama proud’

Southwest Airlines flight operations

Southwest will maintain flights from Midway International Airport, also in Chicago, and Reagan National Airport in Arlington. virginia. “Operations at Chicago O’Hare remain challenging and we are confident we can serve the Chicago area through Chicago Midway,” a spokesman for the airline said Friday.

The airline will continue to offer an additional 271 flights to 79 destinations from two Washington-area airports. “As the Washington region’s largest airline by passenger volume, Southwest is committed to serving this important market,” the release said.

Southwest Airlines Co. began operating out of major O’Hare Airport in 2021, as the once smaller airline aims to compete with established carriers at Chicago’s largest airport. Since then, the company has experienced financial difficulties and discontinued its open-seating policy in an attempt to increase passenger revenue.

Competition for customers at O’Hare has escalated since the pandemic began, with United and American Airlines competing for customers, gate availability and departure slots. After O’Hare had a record year to regain the title of the busiest airport in the United States, the FAA is now threatening to impose flight caps, claiming the airport has reached its full capacity.

What will happen to affected frontline workers at O’Hare and Dulles Airports?

Southwest said all employees affected by this decision will have the opportunity to apply for open positions across the network, including Midway. Additionally, the airline told Nexstar’s DC News Now that it will continue to provide “robust” service at Reagan National Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

In January, the airline made major changes to its passenger policy, eliminating its long-standing open-seating practice.

The revised policy allows Southwest passengers to choose their seats, replacing the previous “free choice” arrangement.

Indian-American investor defends Laura Loomer against Islamophobia: ‘I’ve had face-to-face encounters like this…’

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March 15, 2026

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Indian-American investor defends Laura Loomer against Islamophobia: ‘I’ve had face-to-face encounters like this…’

Indian-origin venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani has defended Donald Trump aide Laura Loomer’s views on “Islamophobia” and said “worry about any ideology that calls for murder” is normal and not a phobia. Motwani said she was confronted by a young man who was distributing copies of the Quran, who told her to her face that he would have to kill her if she refused to convert. Motwani said the incident occurred in downtown Palo Alto. Loomer’s visit to India to attend a media conclave in New Delhi received a lot of criticism because of the horrific statements she has made in the past against India and people of Indian origin. At the secret meeting, she apologized for her past social media posts and said she should have said some hateful things, but insisted she would not take back what she said about American H-1B workers because she represents America First. Regarding her “Islamophobia,” Loomer said Islamophobia is not real and that the faith explicitly calls for the killing of non-Muslims. She said “every non-Muslim should be sincerely afraid of this ideology”. Loomer said that Islam is “the cancer of the world” and that there should be no Muslims electing politicians in the United States. “Most of all terrorism comes from Pakistan,” Loomer said of Pakistan.Loomer continued to make anti-Islamic remarks on social media, and Indian social media users reminded her that Laura said she planned to visit the Taj Mahal, which was built by Muslim rulers, with her fiancé during her visit to India. The rant on social media sparked a major debate, with many Indian academics denouncing Laura Loomer’s Islamophobia. “You are neither a Hindu nor an Indian. Keep your poison to yourself. I am an Indian and we love and respect all religions. Such is secular India. ” Indian activist and professor Rakhi Tripathi posted in response to Laura Loomer’s post. “Read the Quran. There is no such thing as secularism or coexistence in Islam. If secularism exists in Muslim countries, why should Muslim countries be ruled by Sharia law? Do you want India to become a Muslim country? There are 207 million Muslims in India. Enough to conquer a country. Every freedom loving country must wake up to the threat of Islam before it is too late. Save yourselves,” Laura Loomer replied.

Indian ship in close call: ‘Jag Laadki’ loaded with crude oil when attacked at UAE port, sailed safely the next day

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March 15, 2026

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Indian ship in close call: ‘Jag Laadki’ loaded with crude oil when attacked at UAE port, sailed safely the next day

印度船只千钧一发：“Jag Laadki”号在阿联酋港口遭到袭击时装载原油，第二天安全出航

The sky in Fujairah is filled with smoke from burning oil facilities, and ships are anchored near the port of Fujairah (AP Photo)

An Indian-flagged oil tanker was attacked on Saturday while loading crude oil at the oil terminal of Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates. The ship sailed safely the next day and no one on board was injured.According to a government statement, the vessel, named ‘Jag Laadki’, departed from Fujairah at 10:30 am IST carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil and was bound for India. Officials confirmed that the ship and all Indian seafarers on board are safe.“On March 14, 2026, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked while the Indian-flagged vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at Fujairah’s single point mooring. The vessel safely sailed from Fujairah at 1030 UTC today (Sunday), bound for India, carrying approximately 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a release.“The ship and all Indian seafarers on board are safe,” it added.The Jag Laadki is the fourth Indian-flagged ship to emerge from the conflict-affected area unscathed. Its safe departure is considered important as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz affect shipping activity and energy supplies in the region.Earlier on Saturday, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers – Shivalik and Nanda Devi – successfully transited the war-torn Strait of Hormuz carrying a cargo of around 92,712 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Shivalik is expected to arrive at Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16, while Nanda Devi is scheduled to dock at Kandla port a day later.The two vessels are among 24 that have been stranded on the western side of the strait since hostilities in the area began. Four other ships were trapped on the east side.One of the Indian-flagged oil tankers, the Jag Prakash, crossed the strait on Friday after loading gasoline from the Omani port of Sohar. The flight is currently bound for Tanga, Tanzania and is expected to arrive on March 21.Authorities said that while the situation continued to be closely monitored, Indian ships and sailors operating in the area remained safe. Currently, 22 Indian-flagged ships carrying 611 seafarers remain on the western side of the Persian Gulf.India still relies heavily on energy imports, with about 88% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas and 60% of liquefied petroleum gas coming from overseas markets. Before the conflict escalated following the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, more than half of India’s crude oil imports, as well as about 30% of its natural gas and up to 90% of its liquefied petroleum gas, came from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The conflict disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global energy supplies. While India has partially offset the impact of crude oil supply disruptions by increasing purchases from countries such as Russia, gas supplies to industrial users have been reduced, as has LPG supplies to commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants.The Indian government said maritime authorities are still in constant coordination with stakeholders to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers.“The Directorate General of Shipping will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with shipowners, RPSL agencies and Indian missions,” the latest update said.It added that since the launch of the DG Shipping control room, the authority has handled 2,995 calls and more than 5,357 emails from seafarers, their families and other maritime stakeholders seeking information and assistance.So far, 276 Indian seafarers have been repatriated safely from the Gulf, including 23 within 24 hours.Officials said that as the maritime situation evolves, ports across India are also closely monitoring ship movements and cargo operations, while the Shipping Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and shipping companies to ensure the safety of Indian crews and continuity of maritime trade.