We Had To Take The Risk: Indian Sailors Recount Escape From War-Hit Iran

“We knew an attack was possible, but we had no choice-we had to take that risk,” said 27-year-old Ketan Mehta, recalling the moment he and fellow Indian sailors decided to escape a war zone in Iran after weeks of fear, detention, and uncertainty.What started as a routine voyage soon spiralled into a prolonged nightmare. The crew was first detained on suspicion of smuggling, only to find themselves trapped in the middle of an escalating conflict in West Asia. After weeks of anxiety and survival, they finally managed to return home.The ordeal began on December 8, when the oil tanker MT Valiant Roar, carrying 18 crew members, including 16 Indians, was intercepted in international waters while en route to Khor Fakkan in the UAE. Among those onboard

were Captain Vijay Kumar (45) from Meerut and third engineer Ketan Mehta from Ghaziabad.According to Mehta, Iranian authorities initially accused the crew of diesel smuggling, and later of transporting black oil, but neither allegation held up in court."During this period, we were kept in jail for around 50 days. The main difficulty was that we could not understand their language, and they could not understand ours," he told PTI. He said they received release papers on February 26.Even as relief followed their release, it was short-lived.Soon after, tensions in the region spiralled into open conflict, placing some sailors in Bandar Abbas while others in safer locations in the middle of a volatile war zone.Ketan Mehta said the Indian embassy stepped in, advising them that staying in Bandar Abbas was unsafe, suggesting evacuation through Armenia or Azerbaijan.His father, Mukesh Mehta, said the development caused immense anxiety for families back home."When the war started, we were very tense. Our children were in danger," he said.The sailors were initially confined at Bandar Abbas port even after their release, before Indian consulate officials facilitated their movement to safer places, arranging accommodation, food and other essentials.With the situation worsening and no immediate evacuation possible, the sailors decided to leave Iran by road, a journey that would stretch nearly 2,000 kilometres."They travelled all the way to Armenia by road, then flew to Dubai and finally reached Mumbai," Mukesh Mehta said, adding that families in India arranged funds for the journey as the crew had not been paid after leaving the vessel.Detailing the escape, Ketan Mehta said the embassy assisted in securing exit visas and coordinated with Indian officials in Armenia."We took a traveller vehicle towards the Armenian border near Julfa. Missiles were falling even in nearby areas. We thought if the situation is this bad here, it is better to try reaching the border, even if there was a risk on the way," he said.After reaching the border, the group had to wait for two to three days for documentation and clearance before finally crossing into Armenia on March 27. They then proceeded to the capital Yerevan, from where they boarded a flight to Dubai and subsequently returned to India.They landed in Mumbai on March 29.Captain Vijay Kumar said he had left Iran on March 22 and reached Mumbai on March 29, before arriving in Meerut on March 31."At present, I am heading to my village in Shamli for a prayer ceremony, so I am not in a position to share details," he briefly told PTI.Mukesh Mehta said his son returned home recently and was also asked to report to the shipping department office in Mumbai upon arrival to brief authorities about the developments in Iran before heading home.He also expressed gratitude to the Government of India, saying that the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad played a crucial role in ensuring the sailors' safety.As the sailors reunite with their families, the memories of detention, missile strikes and a high-risk escape continue to linger, a stark reminder of how quickly routine journeys can turn into life-threatening ordeals.(With inputs from agencies)