Help us get home: Oil tanker skipper sends SOS to Indian govt from Persian Gulf

Kullu: Starry nights on the deck have been replaced by an anxious watch for missiles and drones, 24x7. Sailors are counting down seconds, not days. Nerves are as taut as the anchor lines that hold the ships in an uncertain wait.That — as described by Himachal-born oil tanker captain Raman Kapoor — is life for thousands of souls aboard the hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf as the US-Israel war with Iran drags on.Kapoor has sent an SOS to Indian govt, requesting the authorities to negotiate a safe passage for sailors stuck in the middle of a war.Kapoor, a native of Kullu in Himachal, is in command of a UAE oil tanker that's stranded off Umm Qasr seaport of Iraq along with 23 crew members. "It's terrifying out here. We keep hearing explosions all around us. We have been living in constant fear of drones or missiles striking us. We have not slept properly since the war began," the 47-year-old told TOI on Wednesday."There are around 700 ships and almost 20,000 sailors, including at least 2000 Indians, stranded in the Persian Gulf and desperate to sail out. Our situation is such that we can neither stay here nor can we get out. All the airports and sea routes are closed and there is no way out," said Kapoor."If possible, Indian govt should make arrangements or provide us with some sort of security so that we can come out of this war alive," said Kapoor, adding: "We can't do anything except remain alert 24x7 for any incoming shell or drone. My crew and company are with me and we won't desert the vessel. There is no certainty here as anything can happen. We are just praying for the war to end so that we reach our homes safely."The skipper's father, 77-year-old Om Chand Kapoor, a retired teacher, told TOI from their native Jallugran village in Parvati valley that he speaks to him daily over the phone."Raman last visited home some five months back before he joined the new ship. We are in constant touch with him. We are worried as he is stuck in a war zone along with many other seamen. All we can hope and pray is for the war to end soon," said Om Chand.A few days back, Kapoor posted an SOS video on social media, saying the situation is getting worse by the day. "We loaded cargo from Iraq and have been waiting in the waters here to sail out. But the situation is getting very serious as ships are being attacked by Iran, especially those that have any links with US or Israel. Iran doesn't want any oil tanker to move out of the Persian Gulf," said Kapoor.A seasoned mariner with 28 years at sea, Kapoor joined the merchant navy when he was 19 and has been captain for around 10 years.