New Delhi: In a remarkable display of humanitarian commitment and professionalism, the Indian Navy’s mission-deployed stealth frigate INS Trikand, currently operating in the Central Arabian Sea, rendered critical medical assistance to a severely injured Pakistani crew member aboard a fishing vessel on April 4, 2025. The assistance was provided approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Oman coast.
The incident unfolded early Thursday morning when INS Trikand intercepted a distress call from the Iranian dhow Al Omeedi. Upon investigation, it was learned that a crew member had sustained grave injuries to his fingers while repairing the vessel’s engine. The injured sailor had already been transferred to another fishing vessel, FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia, which was en route to Iran.
Responding with urgency, INS Trikand altered its course to intercept the vessel and extend medical support. The FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia had 16 crew members on board—11 Pakistani nationals (including 9 Baloch and 2 Sindhi) and 5 Iranians. The injured individual, a Pakistani Baloch national, was found to be in critical condition with multiple fractures and severe hand injuries, accompanied by significant blood loss.
A specialized medical team from INS Trikand, comprising the ship’s Medical Officer, Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and the Boarding Team, boarded the fishing vessel to perform emergency treatment. Under local anesthesia, the medical team conducted a complex procedure involving suturing and splinting of the injured fingers. The surgery, which lasted over three hours, successfully stopped the bleeding and prevented the possibility of gangrene, which could have resulted in permanent loss of the fingers.
In addition to emergency treatment, the Indian Navy team provided the vessel with essential medical supplies, including antibiotics, to support continued care during the crew’s onward journey to Iran.
The crew of FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Navy for its timely intervention, which they acknowledged had saved their crewmate’s life.
