Cuttack, Mar 20: An Odia sailor, Ashok Kumar Dikshit from CDR, Cuttack, is currently stranded aboard a ship in the middle of the Iran-Israel conflict. The ship, which was carrying LPG to Qatar, has been stuck at the "Ras Laffan" port near Qatar for over 20 days. Dikshit, who was serving as the chief officer on board, has appealed to the government to assist in bringing the ship back to safety.

In a video message, Dikshit described the situation, stating that he had traveled to Qatar carrying LPG for shipment to India. About 20 days ago, while on the way, the Iran-Israel conflict broke out, causing the ship to be stuck at the Ras Laffan anchorage. Ras Laffan is one of Qatar’s main ports, but due to the war, the ship has been unable to proceed.

In the past few days, missile attacks from Iran have intensified in the region, with Qatar’s LNG terminal being hit. The attacks have disrupted the LNG production in Qatar, and the security situation has escalated. In response, Qatar has launched interceptor missiles to destroy incoming missiles. However, the debris from these missiles fell near Dikshit’s ship, which is carrying petrol, diesel, and LPG. This has raised serious concerns about the safety of the ship and its cargo.

According to Dikshit, two other LPG ships passed through the "Strait of Hormuz" to India about 8 days ago. Currently, around 20 ships carrying petroleum products are stuck in the region, unable to move due to the ongoing conflict. The Iranian military is not allowing any ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This has left ships like Dikshit’s stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Once the video reached Dikshit’s family, former MLA Prabhat Ranjan Biswal alerted the government. The video was shared with various authorities, including the Chief Minister, Union Minister, and Prime Minister, requesting immediate intervention to bring the stranded ship and its crew members back to safety.

As the situation remains dire, there is growing concern for the safety of Dikshit and the other sailors aboard the ship. The family and authorities are hoping for a swift resolution and safe return of the sailors trapped in this conflict zone.