India, March 14 -- For 26-year-old Ambuj, an Indian seafarer stranded at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, the "new normal" involves a constant, haunting hum of fighter jets, and a terrifying new skill of identifying drones from the deck of his merchant vessel. Ambuj is just one of hundreds of Indian nationals working on various vessels across the wider Gulf region who now find themselves on the frontlines of a conflict ever since the US and Israel attacked Iran, and the latter retaliated.

"We know how dangerous it could be to sail without a navy escort or without permission," Ambuj told news agency Reuters, describing a state of high alert that has lasted for over a fortnight.

His crew first panicked in early March when their captain r...