INS Trikand provides medical aid to injured Pakistani fishing crew in Arabian Sea

An Indian Navy warship provided critical medical assistance to a Pakistani crew member onboard a fishing vessel sailing on the high seas, hundreds of miles from land.

On the morning of April 4, the mission deployed stealth frigate INS Trikand, operating in the central Arabian Sea, intercepted a distress call from an Iranian dhow Al Omeedi, approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Oman coast, officials said.

A crew member had suffered severe hand injuries with multiple fractures and significant blood loss while working on the engine. He had since been transferred to another dhow, FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia, which was en route to Iran.

INS Trikand immediately altered its course to provide emergency medical assistance.

According to an official statement, the FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia had 11 Pakistanis (nine Baloch and two Sindhi) and five Iranians.

A medical officer from INS Trikand, along with a team comprising Marine Commandos and the ship's boarding team, boarded the fishing vessel to administer aid to the injured crew member, a Baloch national.

After providing local anaesthesia, the ship's medical team performed suturing and splinting of the injured fingers during a three-hour surgical procedure. The timely intervention successfully controlled bleeding and prevented potential permanent loss of the fingers due to gangrene.

Additionally, the Indian Navy also supplied essential medical supplies, including antibiotics, to the fishing crew until they reached Iran. 

The Indian Navy maintains a large presence in the Arabian Sea as part of its strategic deployment to safeguard India's interests and carry out anti-piracy missions.