Goa, Sept. 16 -- India has reiterated its call for free and safe navigation in international waters and the uninterrupted movement of commercial vessels through the region's waterways following an attack on the Panama-flagged vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman.

The incident involved 14 Indian nationals who were on board the commercial vessel. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 13 of them have been rescued, while one Indian seafarer remains missing.

Responding to a question from ANI during the Ministry's biweekly press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the developments.

"Of these, 13 have been rescued, and we deeply thank the Omani authorities for their efforts in rescuing our ...