INS Trikand provides medical aid to injured Pakistani national in Arabian Sea

Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Trikand altered its course to reach a fishing vessel in the Central Arabian Sea and provided urgent medical assistance to a critically injured Pakistani crew member onboard it, off the coast of Oman, officials said on Sunday.

INS Trikand on Friday morning intercepted a distress call from an Iranian dhow Al Omeedi, a Navy spokesperson said.

Upon further investigation, it was found that a crew member of the dhow had sustained “severe injuries to his fingers while working on the engine”. The injured had already been transferred to another dhow, FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia, which was en route to Iran, the officials said.

“INS Trikand immediately altered course to provide medical assistance to the injured crew member,” the spokesperson said.

“The crew of FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia consisted 11 Pakistani—nine Baloch and two Sindhi—and five Iranian personnel.

“The injured individual, a Pakistani (Baloch) national, had suffered multiple fractures and severe hand injuries, resulting in heavy blood loss,” he said.

The medical officer of INS Trikand, along with a team comprising MARCOS (Marine Commandos) and the ship’s boarding team, boarded the fishing vessel to administer aid. After providing local anaesthesia, the ship’s medical team performed suturing and splinting on the injured fingers, the officials said.

The surgical procedure which lasted for over three hours, was successfully completed, and bleeding was controlled in time, thereby preventing potential permanent loss of the injured fingers due to gangrene, they added.

Additionally, medical supplies, including antibiotics, were provided to the fishing vessel to ensure the crew’s well-being until they reached Iran.

The entire crew of FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia expressed deep gratitude to the Indian Navy for the timely assistance in saving their crewmate’s life, the officials said.

India