‘No one could sleep’: Indian sailors recount nights of missile attacks near Strait of Hormuz

Indian sailors stranded near the Strait of Hormuz have described a month-long ordeal marked by nightly missile and drone attacks, food shortages and fear while ships were trapped by the widening regional conflict.

Reuters-backed reporting published on Thursday quoted Indian sailor Tithi Chiranjeevi as saying around 10 to 20 missiles struck every night while he was stranded near Khorramshahr. The reporting said he and others on board could not sleep because of the repeated blasts.

The ship was stuck for more than a month because of the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes. The reporting says roughly 2,000 vessels were trapped in the vicinity of the strait.

Seafarers also said they faced shortages of food and the strain of being cut off from their families while waiting for a way out. The testimony adds a human picture to the shipping disruption caused by the fighting in the Middle East.

The accounts were published in Reuters-linked coverage carried by outlets including The Straits Times, India Today and The Indian Express on Thursday. The stories suggest the immediate crisis for these sailors has been eased by their return or ongoing transit home, but they also show how quickly the conflict has spilled into civilian maritime life.

What remains unclear is how many other Indian sailors are still stranded, and when normal shipping through the area might resume.